Maryland Million Day stakes recaps
Keeping up with the big day!
The Biz
October 24, 2026
Today marks the 41st running of the Maryland Million, the granddaddy of state-bred and state-sired days, with plenty of exciting action on tap.
Maryland’s horse, Barbadian Runner, goes for a repeat in the Classic, while fellow millionaire Witty tries for his second Maryland Million Turf Sprint — he won in ’23 — against last year’s champ, Had to Have Him. Takethemoneyhoney tries to come off a long layoff running in the Distaff. And a bevy of two-year-olds try to take the next steps in their development.
We’ll have brief updates on all the action right here.
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MARYLAND MILLION SPRINT
3yo and up, 6 furlongs
Celtic Contender stalked a contested pace, took command entering the stretch and held firm to win Saturday’s $100,000 Maryland Million Sprint by a length at Laurel Park. The 5-year-old Irish War Cry horse bid three deep around the turn, shook clear in upper stretch and turned back Suremeanttoobe’s persistent challenge. Celtic Contender ($5.20) completed six furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.15 after opening fractions of 22.55 and 45.56 seconds. Suremeanttoobe finished 1¼ lengths ahead of third-place Band Camp, while favored Haileysfirstnotion faded to seventh after a wide trip. Celtic Contender also won this event in 2024.
CELTIC CONTENDER
Age/sex: 5-year-old horse
Pedigree: Irish War Cry—Celtic Katie, by Posse
Breeder: Fred T. Lewis, DVM
Owner: Lewis Family Racing Stable
Trainer: Hamilton A. Smith
Jockey: Forest Boyce
Career: 23 starts: 8 wins, 5 seconds, 6 thirds
Earnings: $556,865
Age/sex: 5-year-old horse
Pedigree: Irish War Cry—Celtic Katie, by Posse
Breeder: Fred T. Lewis, DVM
Owner: Lewis Family Racing Stable
Trainer: Hamilton A. Smith
Jockey: Forest Boyce
Career: 23 starts: 8 wins, 5 seconds, 6 thirds
Earnings: $556,865
MARYLAND MILLION LADIES
Fillies and mares 3yo and up, 1 1/16 miles (turf)
Mopo turned back a stretch challenge from Beautiful Blome to win Saturday’s $127,500 Maryland Million Ladies by three-quarters of a length at Laurel Park, giving trainer Phil Capuano his first Maryland Million victory. The 4-year-old Great Notion filly relaxed behind runaway leader Precious Avary, closed the gap around the far turn and took command entering the stretch before digging in against her outside challenger. Favored Mopo ($5.00) completed 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:43.28. Beautiful Blome held second by a half-length over the steadily closing Nick’s Notion, while Precious Avary faded to last after opening a six-length lead down the backstretch.
MOPO
Age/sex: 4-year-old filly
Pedigree: Great Notion—Perverse, by Distorted Humor
Breeder: Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman & Rebecca Davi…
Owner: Mopo Racing
Trainer: Phillip Capuano
Jockey: Paco Lopez
Career: 16 starts: 5 wins, 8 seconds, 1 third
Earnings: $337,600
Age/sex: 4-year-old filly
Pedigree: Great Notion—Perverse, by Distorted Humor
Breeder: Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman & Rebecca Davi…
Owner: Mopo Racing
Trainer: Phillip Capuano
Jockey: Paco Lopez
Career: 16 starts: 5 wins, 8 seconds, 1 third
Earnings: $337,600
MARYLAND MILLION LASSIE
2yo fillies, 6 furlongs
MARYLAND MILLION TURF SPRINT
3yo and up, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf)
MARYLAND MILLION DISTAFF
Fillies and mares 3yo and up, 7 furlongs
MARYLAND MILLION NURSERY
2yo, 6 furlongs
MARYLAND MILLION TURF
3yo and up, 1 1/8 miles (turf)
MARYLAND MILLION CLASSIC
3yo and up, 1 1/8 miles
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