Top Midlantic-breds running in the Maryland Million
Quartet of Top Midlantic-breds at Maryland’s Day at the Races
The Biz
October 24, 2026
Several runners noted in the most recent Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred/The Racing Biz Top Midlantic-bred Poll will try their luck in Saturday’s Jim McKay Maryland Million Day races.
Two of them are among the top 10, while two others are among those also receiving votes. Here’s the list:
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Barbadian Runner was ranked ninth in the Oct. 6 poll and is the overwhelming 2-5 favorite in the $150,000 Classic. He’s won three of six starts this year with a pair of seconds, and his rallying win in the Battery Park at Delaware earlier this month pushed him past $1 million in earnings.
Barbadian Runner, a Maryland-bred by Barbados, is trained by Henry Walters for AJ Will Win Stables and will be ridden by Forest Boyce.
Thundering, 10th in the most recent poll, is 4-5 on the morning line in the $125,000 Turf. A winner in three of his seven starts this year, his triumphs include the Japan Racing Association Turf Cup at Laurel Park in June and the state-restricted Find at Colonial Downs in August. In between, he ran third in the Grade 2 United Nations at Monmouth Park.
Paco Lopez will ride the four-year-old Mosler gelding for trainer Derek Ryan and owner Dastur Racing.
Irish Jig is 20-1 on the morning line in the $100,000, seven-furlong Distaff. Trained by Kelly Deiter for herself and Cathy Denelsbeck, the three-year-old Irish War Cry filly has won three of seven starts this year with two seconds. She has a pair of restricted stakes wins, in the Miss Disco at Colonial Downs and in the Tax Free Shopping Distaff at Delaware.
Vincent Cheminaud will ride the Maryland-bred, who is among those also receiving votes in the Top Midlantic-bred Poll.
Haileysfirstnotion is the 8-5 second choice in the Sprint. A five-year-old, Maryland-bred Great Notion gelding, Haileysfirstnotion finished third in this event a year ago. Most recently, he ran down Spikezone late to win Delaware Park’s New Castle Handicap for his second win from four seasonal starts. He is among those also receiving votes in the latest poll.
Apprentice Emanuel Rosario will ride for trainer Gary Capuano and owner-breeders Daniel Crowley and Non Stop Stable.
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