December 7 marked the 43rd running of the Maryland Juvenile Stakes, nee the Maryland Juvenile Championship, and the 38th renewal of its sister race, the Maryland Juvenile Filly, both for two-year-olds at seven furlongs.

Here’s what we learned today, plus a photo gallery at the bottom of the page:

TONY ECLIPSE CAN FINISH

Sent off the lukewarm 2-1 favorite in the Juvenile, Tony Eclipse pressed the pace of Executive Order, disposed of that rival, and was immediately confronted by Saxton. That confrontation didn’t last long, however; Tony Eclipse quickly spurted away from Saxton and went on to win by nearly four lengths.

“He was really, really strong, you know. He picked it up really, really fast,” said winning rider Jevian Toledo. “So that was very impressive. For two years old, you know, you’re thinking that they’re gonna pick it up, but not the way he did.”

GOOD IN THE GATE

Caprice is off to a stellar start to her career, now with four stakes wins in six career outings and nearly $300,000 banked. But in two starts prior to today’s Maryland Juvenile Filly, gate issues put her back against the wall.

In the one-mile White Clay Creek at Delaware Park, she hopped at the start and was hung out wide but battled on to be second. Last time out in the Smart Halo, she again was a bit sluggish early and had to come flying late to win.

No such issues today, though, and the result was a professional, front-running 1 ½-length score over the hard-trying Safe Trust.

“I know she can come off the pace, but I rode her a little more earlier,” said pilot Jaime Rodriguez. “Every time [prior] when the dirt hits her in the face, she’s like, ‘I don’t want to be here.’”

FIT AS A FIDDLE

Tony Eclipse’s four prior starts, including one on turf, had all come at a mile, so perhaps it’s no surprise that he would finish nicely going seven-eighths.

His two dirt defeats prior to today came to two of the better local two-year-olds this year. Last out in the Nashua, he led a long way while setting solid fractions before ceding the advantage late to multiple stakes winner Studlydoright, who finished fourth in the Grade 2 Remsen today. And two back he’d finished second behind It’s Hammertime, who won his first three starts, two in stakes, before finishing fourth in the Nashua. It’s Hammertime was scratched from this event.

DON’T SLEEP ON SAFE TRUST

Maryland Juvenile Filly runner-up Safe Trust ran a game race in defeat, pressing the pace of Caprice throughout and finishing nearly two clear of her rivals. She probably had been best in her prior start, a troubled third-place finish in allowance company, and took a nice step forward here. A rallying sort in her prior starts, the Jose Corrales trainee showed a new, speedier dimension today and appears to be moving in the right direction.

THAT’S GONNA STING

Off a flashy maiden score, Ms Notion was the 5-2 second choice in the Maryland Juvenile Filly. But she took a bad stumble leaving the gate and unseated rider Tais Lyapustina.

Lyapustina was up quickly, though, and Ms Notion walked off.

TORREALBA’S WORLD

Even when he loses these days, jockey J. G. Torrealba wins. 

Even without a stakes win today, the red-hot rider won three four more races Saturday at Laurel, giving him 15 wins in the last six Maryland racing days. He took the nightcap aboard Mor Mor Mor after previously having won on Nancy Mary and Bond’s Belle. 

Oh, and when he finished second in the fourth race to the fast-closing Collaborate while aboard Pit Stop Man, objections by both him and Matilda Burnham aboard Addy’s Laddy T N T resulted in the winner being taken down and placed fifth, giving Torrealba four wins on the day.

MARYLAND JUVENILE FILLY STAKES

> 2yo fillies (Maryland-bred/sired), 7 furlongs, $100,000 purse

> Running time: 1:25.89

MARYLAND JUVENILE STAKES

> 2yo (Maryland-bred/sired), 7 furlongs, $100,000 purse

> Running time: 1:25.28

CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!