Maryland Million at a glance: Classic and Distaff
Barbadian Runner strong Classic favorite
The Biz
October 23, 2026
In advance of the Maryland Million races, we’ll be providing Maryland Million stakes at a glance: couple-paragraph writeups on what each race offers.
Here, the $100,000 Distaff and the $150,000 Classic.
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Can Takethemoneyhoney shrug off long layoff?
Takethemoneyhoney returns from a lengthy absence with a nearly spotless record in Saturday’s $100,000 Maryland Million Distaff at Laurel Park. The Michael Moore-trained five-year-old has seven wins and three seconds from 10 starts, including victories in this year’s Geisha and Conniver. Between those wins, she missed by a nose in the Barbara Fritchie. She’s two noses and a head from being undefeated. Regular rider Eliseo Ruiz reunites with the daughter of Golden Lad, whose last appearance was her five-length Conniver victory March 7.
Defending Distaff winner Onyx Ten comes off a runner-up finish to Irish Jig in Delaware Park’s Tax Free Shopping Distaff Handicap, and both return here. Slewperstitus, last year’s Maryland Million Lassie winner, captured the Weather Vane Sept. 19 and has never finished worse than third in 12 starts for trainer Robert Bailes. Rerun Table brings consecutive front-running allowance victories, while Divine Seeker enters off a 6¾-length allowance win at Parx over this seven-furlong distance. Doc’s Miracle also arrives off a Delaware allowance score.
Barbadian Runner odds-on to defend crown
Barbadian Runner returns to defend his Maryland Million Classic title Saturday at Laurel Park, arriving off a victory in Delaware Park’s $200,000 Battery Park Stakes. The Henry Walters-trained son of Barbados rallied between horses to win that Oct. 3 race by three-quarters of a length, his third victory in six starts this season. He defeated Post Time in last year’s Classic and has won five of seven starts at the 1⅛-mile distance. Forest Boyce, aboard for those successes, rides again.
Market Maven brings recent winning form for trainer Jamie Ness after leading throughout a 3½-length claiming victory at Parx Oct. 5 and was first past the post in this event three years ago before being DQed to second. Stablemate In the Dance most recently finished third in a Delaware allowance, while Omar Comin stretches out after a second and a fourth in Charles Town sprints. Wickeddivine offers stakes credentials from a third-place finish in the De Francis Dash but must rebound from a distant fourth in the New Castle Handicap and navigate two turns for the first time. Sacred Thunder also stretches out after finishing fourth in a Timonium sprint allowance.
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