Million is about “Maryland People, Maryland Horses” * The Racing Biz

When the Maryland Million was born in 1986, the promise was bold—a day that would celebrate Maryland’s horses, breeders and riders, with purses rich enough to lure top runners.

In those early years it worked spectacularly. Horses such as Herat and Safe held the Maryland Million as a springboard for the Breeders’ Cup.

Forty years later, the Maryland Million Portems aren’t quite moving the meter like they once did. But for Maryland Horsemen, it’s still their day – perhaps more than ever.

The 40th Maryland Million will take place on October 11 in Laurel Park. Post time for the 12-race program is 11:30 am

“It’s definitely my favorite day,” said Jessica Lindsey, assistant to veteran trainer Jerry Robb. “I mean, I love the Preakness because it’s big for Maryland, but this is our day – about our horses. This is when we can shine with our homebodies. This is when we can show everyone what [the Robbs as breeders] did in the backyard. It’s all our people. “

Robb’s Barn—also including his wife, longtime owner-crusher Gina Robb—plans to send out a small army of runners this year. Robb has 12 career Maryland Million Wins, second to Dale Capuano, who retired with 15. He hopes to cut into that lead on Saturday.

“We went into nine,” Lindsey said with a laugh.

Eight of these are in the main bodies of their races. The ninth, all hardways, would need a scratch to pull into the classic.

For Lindsey, the day is not just about winning, but also about belonging.

“When we had our big retirement ceremony on Maryland Million Day for [Anna’s Bandit]She recalled one of their previous stars, “That was huge.” You really get to see the people who have followed you that you don’t really know, who love Maryland horses. “

That sense of connection keeps trainers like Justin Nixon circling the date on their calendars. Nixon will pilot his homegrown Sheilah’s Warcloud in the Maryland Million Distaff, a race in which she finished second last year. She hasn’t started since April.

“She just wasn’t 100 percent later [the April race]Nixon said. So we gave her some time with the Maryland Million as the target, worked our way back, and here we are. ‘

The plan came together for once.

“It doesn’t happen often – there’s usually a hiccup or two – but this time it’s been smooth,” the trainer said.

Sheilah’s Warcloud has been training steadily with four recorded works in the past month. Her last two, September 28 and October 5, were Bullet Five-Furlong Breezes, most recently going the distance in 59 2/5 seconds. Mychel Sanchez is named to drive.

“He browsed her, loves her, so we’ll give it a try,” Nixon said. “It’s the one we’ve been pointing at all along.”

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In a sense, that’s the Maryland Million in microcosm-local trainers and riders, Maryland-Sired Horses and a unique day to shine.

Lindsey points back to 2019. That year Anna’s Bandit, a Robb Homebred that eventually earned more than $800,000, won the West Virginia Breeders’ Classics Cavada on October 12 and rode back a week later to score in the Maryland Million Distaff.

“She was just great. She’s a lot of fun and she really kind of sparked my love for the Maryland Million,” Lindsey said. “Anna had a fan club. People just came to see her. You go to the Maryland Million, and there are Maryland people who want to see Maryland horses.”