Slam Notion returns in G3 Maryland Sprint
Familiar faces square off in 6-furlong test
Press Release
May 14, 2026
Eric Rizer’s 4-year-old homebred Slam Notion makes Laurel Park his year-round home with trainer Robbie Bailes. He has five wins, three in restricted sprint stakes, and two seconds in nine career tries over the main track.
Saturday he’ll look to step up into graded company for the first time in the $150,000, Grade Maryland Sprint Stakes at six furlongs. The race, carded as the eighth on a 14-race program topped by the Grade Preakness, has brought together a number of familiar faces to Maryland racing fans, along with some intimidating newcomers.
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“He really loves Laurel,” Bailes said. “This wasn’t in our game plan. We gave him a little break after his last race. He seems to be coming around a little bit quicker than I thought he would and we thought this might be a good spot for him. We’re looking forward to it.”
Slam Notion won six of 10 starts last year including the Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial and six-furlong Maryland Million Sprint at Laurel and Star de Naskra at Colonial Downs. Most recently he ran fourth, beaten eight lengths by subsequent Carter (G2) winner Point Dume, in the seven-furlong General George Feb. 14.
“I wasn’t happy with it, but he doesn’t throw those races at you too often,” Bailes said. “He had a really strong year for us. We were thinking about giving him a little break, a little breather after the stake win, and we ended up maybe going one race too far. But everything looks good. We sent him down to the Rizers and let him eat grass and be a horse for a little bit. I’m real happy how he’s come back. I love him. He’s a neat little horse.”
Slam Notion is 5-1 on the morning line and will have regular pilot Jevian Toledo in the irons.
The lukewarm 7-2 favorite on the morning line is the Gary Capuano-trained Haileysfirstnotion. Another son of Great Notion, he made his first start in nearly seven months on May 1, winning a third-level allowance easily. He has been third or better in eight of nine Laurel starts.
Six-time Laurel winner Celtic Contender is 9-2 on the morning line and will have Forest Boyce up. In his most recent start, he won an open allowance while earning his career-high Beyer figure, 100. Forest Boyce will ride.
Faster Gator, 2-for-2 at Laurel, is also 9-2. The Anthony Farrior trainee won the Steel Valley Sprint at Mahoning Valley in his most recent outing March 28. Irad Ortiz, Jr. will ride.
The Kerry Hohlbein-trained S S Sinatra rounds out the local contingent. He is 30-1 on the morning line and owns four local wins.
Others who could see some wagering action include Floodlites (4-1) for Wesley Ward with John Velazquez up; Faust (8-1) for Steve Asmussen and Jose Ortiz; and Bring the Smoke (10-1) for Preakness hopeful trainer Whit Beckman. Tyler Gaffalione will ride.
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