MHBAMdMIllion2014sqWith the 2014 Maryland Million nearly at hand, we will take a look back at the 2013 edition, highlighting the winners and telling the stories.

Jason Servis ended up running two odds-on favorites on Maryland Million day.

Though only one of them was able to take home the big prize, that winner was no great surprise, since the horse had entered the race with an eight-race winning streak.

Ribo Bobo, a Florida-bred Louis Quatorze gelding, registered his ninth consecutive victory with a sharp score in the Maryland Million Sprint.  Not bad for a horse that had twice changed hands for $6,250 earlier in the season.

“He keeps moving up and winning races so we will take him to Florida,” said assistant trainer Carlos David.  “He is amazing.”

[boxify cols_use =”3″ cols =”6″ position =”right” box_spacing =”5″ padding =”3″ background_color =”gray” background_opacity =”10″ border_width =”1″ border_color =”blue” border_style =”solid” height =”150″ ]2013 MARYLAND MILLION SPRINT

  1. Ribo Bobo (Jason Servis/Mr. Amore Stable)
  2. Action Andy (Carlos Garcia/Robert Gerczak)
  3. Fersmiley (Lisa Guerrero/Half Hollow Racing, Triple F Stable, and Ira Keeperman)[/boxify]

Ribo Bobo, now six, had begun his career with promise, taking Calder’s Foolish Pleasure Stakes in his fourth career start, placing in the Grade 3 Iroquois at Churchill Downs, and briefly following the Kentucky Derby trial in 2011.

But by the end of 2012 and early 2013, his best days seemed behind him.  Servis claimed for $8,000, lost him for $6,250, claimed him back at the same level.  The last of those races was the horse’s third straight win, and from there, he moved into starter allowance company.

Finally, on September 2, he returned to stakes company, winning Monmouth’s Icecapade by five over then-red hot Immortal Eyes.  Two starts later, he was at Laurel for the Maryland Million Sprint.

“I didn’t have to do much, just keep him in as he came around the final turn because he was going so fast and running so easily,” said jockey Julian Pimentel.  “He is remarkable, winning so many in a row.”

 

Ribo Bobo wins the 2013 Maryland Million Sprint. Photo by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.

Ribo Bobo wins the 2013 Maryland Million Sprint. Photo by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.

RIBO BOBO file