Making his first start in nearly 15 months and trying turf for the first time, Davyjonz stormed through a narrow seam in mid-stretch to break his maiden in Sunday’s opener at Laurel Park.

“Davyjonz not monkeying around today,” track announcer Dave Rodman called, referencing the Monkees frontman who was a big horse racing fan (and onetime jockey).

The 4-year-old Maryland-bred colt by Bourbon Courage had been in the money in three of five prior dirt starts but found the winner’s circle in his sixth career outing, posting a $30.60 win mutuel for owner Steven L. Walfish and trainer Robin Graham.

Davyjonz had not raced since March 15, 2024, when he was third in a Laurel waiver maiden claimer.

“We had to give him time to grow up,” Graham explained. “Being a colt, he’s a little bit heavy, and we just had to give him time to grow up. And then it’s like, well, let’s give him a little more time to grow up.”

Graham said she had problems finding the right race for her charge.

“I put him in on the dirt,” she explained. “I entered him on the dirt a couple weeks ago, and it didn’t go. So I put him on the dirt this time, and it didn’t go, and I dropped into the turf. They said, ‘You want to go main track only?’ I said, no, I want to run.”

Under jockey Horacio Karamanos, who recently returned to Maryland and notched his third win in two days, Davyjonz saved ground early before swinging out and surging between horses late to win by three parts of a length.

Graham was thrilled to team up again with the veteran rider. They had combined on some good horses over the years, including Lady Sabelia, winner of the 2015 then-Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie for Graham and owner Mrs. Frank Wright. Lady Sabelia earned over $740,000, making her the richest horse Graham has trained.

“That was the best part,” she said of teaming up again with Karamanos. “I saw him in the hardware store a few weeks ago, and he told me, he says, the end of May [to return to Maryland]. He’s a great guy.”

Davyjonz, bred by Lady Olivia at North Cliff, LLC, was purchased for $17,000 by Walfish at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic June 2-year-olds in training sale. He covered the 5½ furlongs in 1:02.15 over firm turf, earning $32,430 from the $51,830 purse.

Danner, the 4.30-1 third choice coming off an even longer layoff than the winner, held well after making the lead in mid-stretch to finish second, while Ennis Town closed mildly to round out the trifecta. The $1 exacta paid $118.90, the trifecta $836.10, and the superfecta $5,061.60.

With the win, Graham was in a cheery mood – even though her right arm was in a sling.

“They replaced [my shoulder] two weeks ago, and I’ve got three more weeks with this on before I can use it,” she explained. “At least it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

What happened?

“47 years of galloping horses,” she said with a shrug.

Sunday, her patience and perseverance were well rewarded.