Maryland Million Distaff Handicap - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Maryland Million Distaff Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race

Thoroughbred horse race

Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...

held annually in October since 1986 primarily at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel

Laurel, Maryland

Laurel is a city in northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Incorporated in 1870, the city maintains a historic district including its Main Street...

, Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

or at Pimlico Race Course

Pimlico Race Course

Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...

in Baltimore. To be eligible for the Maryland Million Distaff Handicap, a filly or mare must be sired by a stallion who stands in Maryland. Due to that restriction the race is classified as a non-graded or "listed" stakes race and is not eligible for grading by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

The race is part of Maryland Million Day

Maryland Million Day

The Maryland Million Day is an annual series of stakes thoroughbred horse races operated by Maryland Million Limited, a company formed in 1985....

, a 12-race program held in mid October that was the creation of renowned television sports journalist Jim McKay

Jim McKay

James Kenneth McManus , better known by his professional name of Jim McKay, was an American television sports journalist....

. The "Maryland Million" is the first State-Bred showcase event ever created. Since 1986, 27 other events in 20 states have imitaded the showcase and it's structure.

From its inception in 1986 through 1992, 2001, 2002 and 2004 the race was run on dirt at a distance of six furlongs. Since 2004 it has been a 7 furlongs competition and currently offers a purse

Purse distribution

In horse racing, the term purse distribution may refer to the total amount of money paid out to the owners of horses racing at a particular track over a given period of time, or to the percentages of a race's total purse that are awarded to each of the highest finishers...

of $150,000.

In its 24th running in 2009, the race is restricted to those horses who were sire

Sire

Sire may refer to:* Father, the counterpart of a dam, particularly in animal breeding. See also stallion* James W. Sire, author on worldviews* Sire Records, a record label* Sire Advertising, an advertising agency...

d by a stallion

Stallion (horse)

A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded .Stallions will follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to...

who stands

Horse breeding

Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...

in the state of Maryland. Both the entrant horse and their stallion must be nominated to the Maryland Million program.

The race itself has had many titles since 1986 due in large part to the aggressive marketing efforts of Maryland Million Limited, the series corporate founder. The race has been called many things starting from 1986 through 1988 and 1990 through 1992 it was known as the "State of Maryland Distaff Handicap." From 1993 through 1995 the race was called the "Port of Baltimor Distaff Handicap," from 1996 through 2001 the race was known as the "Maryland Department of Transportation Distaff Handicap." In 2002 the race was called the "Susquehanna Bank Disstaff Handicap," in 2006 it was known as the "Baltimore Examiner Distaff Handicap" and in 2007 the race was called the "Toyota Tundra Distaff Handicap."

Records

Most wins horse:

3 - Safely Kept
Safely Kept
Safely Kept was a Maryland-bred Bay thoroughbred filly sired by Horatius. Safely Kept stormed onto the nationwide sprint stage in 1988 and won 24 of her 31 starts over the next three years in an era when there weren't a great deal of sprint races restricted to females...

(1989, 1990, 1991)

Speed record:

7 furlongs: 1:22.73 - Willa On the Move (2003)
6 furlongs: 1:10.00 - Safely Kept
Safely Kept
Safely Kept was a Maryland-bred Bay thoroughbred filly sired by Horatius. Safely Kept stormed onto the nationwide sprint stage in 1988 and won 24 of her 31 starts over the next three years in an era when there weren't a great deal of sprint races restricted to females...

(1989)

Most wins by an owner:

2 - Jayeff B Stable

Most wins by a jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...

:

3 - Mario Pino

Most wins by a trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...

:

3 - Alan E. Goldberg
Alan E. Goldberg
Alan E. Goldberg is an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer. He began his career as a professional trainer in the early 1970s, serving as an apprentice to Walter Kelley from a base at New York's Aqueduct Racetrack. In 1974 he went out on his own and in 1989 trained Safely Kept to American...

Winners of the Maryland Million Distaff Handicap

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse
2011	Love That Dance	5	Pablo Fragoso	Benjamin Perkins Benjamin W. Perkins, Jr. Benjamin W. Perkins, Jr. is an American trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business, he is the son of Ben Perkins, Sr. who conditioned racehorses for close to fifty years. In 1981, Perkins, Jr. won his first race with at Atlantic...	John Petrini	7 fur.	1:24.51	$100,000
2010	Blind Date	4	Sheldon Russell	Hamilton A. Smith	William Backer	7 fur.	1:28.82	$100,000
2009	All Giving	5	Jonathan Joyce	Flint W. Stites	Concepts Unlimited Stable	7 fur.	1:23.34	$100,000
2008	Spectacular Malibu	4	Julian Pimentel	Michael J. Trombetta	Country LIfe Farm	7 fur.	1:23.56	$150,000
2007	Akronism	3	Anthony Black Anthony S. Black Anthony S. "Tony" Black is a record-holding jockey in North American Thoroughbred horse racing. He is a nephew of U.S...	Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. "Tim" Ritchey is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He is best known as the trainer of Afleet Alex, a 2005 winner of two American Classic Races, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes....	Robert S. Evans	7 fur.	1:24.00	$150,000
2006	Silmaril Silmaril The Silmarils are three brilliant jewels which contained the unmarred light of the Two Trees in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. The Silmarils were made out of the crystalline substance silima by Fëanor, a Noldorin Elf, in Valinor during the Years of the Trees...	5	Ryan Fogelsonger Ryan Fogelsonger Ryan Fogelsonger is an American Champion jockey in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing.Based in Maryland, Fogelsonger began riding in 2002 but was late getting started, earning his first win on May 1 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland...	Christopher Grove	Stephen E. Quick	7 fur.	1:23.00	$150,000
2005	Valley of the Gods	5	Harry Vega Harry Vega Harry Vega is an American jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing.Vega began his riding career in Michigan in 1983 then in the late 1980s moved to compete at tracks on the Northeast coast of the United States...	Keith W. LeBarron	David O'Neill	7 fur.	1:25.34	$150,000
2004	Merryland Missy	4	Stewart Elliott Stewart Elliott Stewart Elliott is an American thoroughbred jockey.Elliott grew up in horse racing; his father was a jockey for many years, his mother rode show horses and was a riding instructor, and his uncle owns a racing stable in Canada...	Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. "Tim" Ritchey is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He is best known as the trainer of Afleet Alex, a 2005 winner of two American Classic Races, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes....	Country Life Farm	6 fur.	1:10.60	$100,000
2003	Willa On the Move	4	Mario Pino	Anthony W. Dutrow Anthony W. Dutrow Anthony W. "Tony" Dutrow is an American horse trainer in Thoroughbred horse racing.The eldest of three brothers involved in Thoroughbred racing, he is the son of the late well-known Maryland trainer Richard E. Dutrow, Sr...	Marathon Farms, Inc.	7 fur.	1:22.73	$100,000
2002	Blinded by Love	4	Richard Migliore	Ben W. Perkins, Jr.	New Farm	6 fur.	1:11.28	$100,000
2001	Case of the Blues	4	Mario Pino	Anthony W. Dutrow Anthony W. Dutrow Anthony W. "Tony" Dutrow is an American horse trainer in Thoroughbred horse racing.The eldest of three brothers involved in Thoroughbred racing, he is the son of the late well-known Maryland trainer Richard E. Dutrow, Sr...	Skeedattle II	6 fur.	1:11.54	$100,000
2000	Tropical Punch	4	Heberto Castillo, Jr. Heberto Castillo, Jr. Heberto Castillo, Jr. is a retired jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He was born into a family involved in the sport. His father was a jockey and his mother Gloria was a horse trainer in Florida. His sister, Rita, married jockey José Santos in 1997.In 1986, Castillo, Jr...	James A. Jerkens James A. Jerkens James A. "Jimmy" Jerkens is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer. His father, U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee H. Allen Jerkens, and brother, Steve Jerkens, are also trainers....	Susan & John Moore	7 fur.	1:23.46	$100,000
1999	Flippy Diane	5	Diane Nelson	Leah Gyarmati	Castle Village Farm	7 fur.	1:23.80	$100,000
1998	Weather Vane Weather vane A weather vane is an instrument for showing the direction of the wind. They are typically used as an architectural ornament to the highest point of a building....	4	Mario Pino	Richard W. Delp	Par Four Racing Stables	7 fur.	1:23.20	$100,000
1997	Secret Prospect	4	Mark Johnston	John J. Tammaro III	Conover Stable	7 fur.	1:24.60	$100,000
1996	Heavenly Punch	4	Edgar S. Prado	Sid C. Attard Sid C. Attard Sid C. Attard is a Canadian horse trainer in Thoroughbred horse racing. Members of his family emigrated to Canada in the 1960s where older brothers Joseph and Tino Attard became racehorse trainers and Larry became one of the top jockeys in the country and a member of the Canadian Horse Racing...	CC. Stable and Robert Harvey	7 fur.	1:23.00	$100,000
1995	Churchbell Chimes	4	Alberto Delgado	J. William Boniface	Susan Granville	7 fur.	1:24.00	$100,000
1994	Alcovy	4	Scott Miller	William G. Huffman	L. Riley Magnum	7 fur.	1:23.60	$100,000
1993	Star Minister	4	Andrea Seefeldt	Richard W. Small	Robert Meyerhoff	7 fur.	1:24.20	$100,000
1992	Brilliant Brass	5	Edgar S. Prado	Carlos A. Garcia	Elaine L. Bassford	6 fur.	1:11.60	$100,000
1991	Safely Kept Safely Kept Safely Kept was a Maryland-bred Bay thoroughbred filly sired by Horatius. Safely Kept stormed onto the nationwide sprint stage in 1988 and won 24 of her 31 starts over the next three years in an era when there weren't a great deal of sprint races restricted to females...	5	Gary L. Stevens	Alan E. Goldberg Alan E. Goldberg Alan E. Goldberg is an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer. He began his career as a professional trainer in the early 1970s, serving as an apprentice to Walter Kelley from a base at New York's Aqueduct Racetrack. In 1974 he went out on his own and in 1989 trained Safely Kept to American...	Jayeff B Stable	6 fur.	1:11.00	$100,000
1990	Safely Kept Safely Kept Safely Kept was a Maryland-bred Bay thoroughbred filly sired by Horatius. Safely Kept stormed onto the nationwide sprint stage in 1988 and won 24 of her 31 starts over the next three years in an era when there weren't a great deal of sprint races restricted to females...	4	Julie Krone Julie Krone Julie Krone , is a retired American jockey. In 1993, she became the first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race when she captured the Belmont Stakes aboard Colonial Affair...	Alan E. Goldberg Alan E. Goldberg Alan E. Goldberg is an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer. He began his career as a professional trainer in the early 1970s, serving as an apprentice to Walter Kelley from a base at New York's Aqueduct Racetrack. In 1974 he went out on his own and in 1989 trained Safely Kept to American...	Jayeff B Stable	6 fur.	1:11.00	$100,000
1989	Safely Kept Safely Kept Safely Kept was a Maryland-bred Bay thoroughbred filly sired by Horatius. Safely Kept stormed onto the nationwide sprint stage in 1988 and won 24 of her 31 starts over the next three years in an era when there weren't a great deal of sprint races restricted to females...	3	Craig Perret Craig Perret Craig Perret is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding horses at age five and by seven was riding quarter horses in match races...	Alan E. Goldberg Alan E. Goldberg Alan E. Goldberg is an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer. He began his career as a professional trainer in the early 1970s, serving as an apprentice to Walter Kelley from a base at New York's Aqueduct Racetrack. In 1974 he went out on his own and in 1989 trained Safely Kept to American...	Barry Weisbord	6 fur.	1:10.00	$100,000
1988	Dark Tzarina	5	M. J. Conner	H. Kirk Steen, Jr.	Cerulean Farm	6 fur.	1:10.80	$100,000
1987	Ms. Rutledge	3	Kent Desormeaux Kent Desormeaux Kent Jason Desormeaux is an American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who holds the U.S. record for most races won in a single year, 1989.-Brief biography:...	King T. Leatherbury King T. Leatherbury King T. Leatherbury MBA is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer who ranks third all-time in wins among U.S. trainers....	Herman Greenberg	6 fur.	1:11.20	$100,000
1986	Capp It Off	4	Jerry D. Bailey	Gregory L. Wilson	Oliver Goldsmith	6 fur.	1:11.80	$100,000