Barbadian Runner tops Maryland Million Classic
Racing’s newest millionaire aims to defend title
Frank Vespe
October 18, 2026
Defending champion Barbadian Runner heads a field of eight, plus three also-eligibles, entered in the Oct. 24 $150,000 Maryland Million Classic.
The four-year-old son of Barbados became racing’s newest millionaire Oct. 3 with a win in Delaware’s Battery Park Stakes. In that contest, he ran down front-running Cooke Creek in late stages to win by three parts of a length.
“He’s been on the cusp of $1 million for the last couple of races,” said trainer Henry Walters following the Battery Park. “Glad he got it done.”
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In last year’s Maryland Million Classic, Barbadian Runner fended off 1-9 favorite Post Time to win by three-quarters of a length in a surprising upset.
“Everybody would love to have a horse like this,” Walters said then. “He surprised me from day one when we purchased him. We never dreamed that he’d turn out this good. He’s gotten better each time.”
Regular pilot Forest Boyce has the mount.
A year ago Post Time was the overwhelming favorite, the millionaire who seemingly couldn’t be beat. This time around, Barbadian Runner, who spoiled Post Time’s party, will assume that role as the strong favorite.
Barbadian Runner will leave from the two-hole, and just to his inside will be the Jamie Ness-trained Market Maven. An eight-year-old Super Ninety Nine gelding, Market Maven posted his seventh career victory last time out, zipping to the front and leading throughout in a $25,000 claiming event at Parx.
Three years ago in the Classic, Market Maven engaged in a spirited duel with Ain’t Da Beer Cold and flashed across the wire first. But after an objection for bumping, Market Maven was disqualified to second, leaving Ain’t Da Beer Cold the winner. In the next year’s Classic, Market Maven finished a distant fifth behind Brilliant Ice.
Kenny Cox, the trainer of the now-retired Ain’t Da Beer Cold, will gun for his second Classic triumph when he saddles Wickeddivine in the Classic and gives Jeiron Barbosa a leg up. A four-year-old Divining Rod gelding, Wickeddivine has won four of 14 career starts and was a good third in the June 27 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash.
But he’s made only one off-color start since, and more to the point, the Classic will be the first start of his career beyond six furlongs.
Ness, the trainer of Market Maven, also will saddle In the Dance, a five-year-old Imagining gelding who owns nine career wins and more than $340,000 banked. Ness’s go-to rider, Jaime Rodriguez, has the mount.
Also in the field are Goodbye Note, Omar Comin, Davyjonz, and Sacred Thunder.
The Maryland Million is restricted to horses sired by stallions standing in Maryland. If races dip below eight Maryland-sired runners, then Maryland-bred horses that are not Maryland-sired may draw in to maintain a field of eight. Maryland-breds needing scratches to draw in are Derbyness, Roll On Jesse, and Bill of Rights.
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