The Maryland racing industry will be in the spotlight this Saturday, when Laurel Park hosts the 36^th Jim McKay Maryland Million card. The 12-race slate features a plethora of stakes races, restricted to horses sired by a stallion standing in Maryland.

The headline event is the $150,000 Maryland Million Classic for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ⅛ miles on the dirt. A field of eight Maryland-sired horses have entered in the main body of the race, with a further five Maryland-breds on the also-eligible list. It’s scheduled as the 11^th race, with a post time scheduled for 4:57 p.m. ET. The Maryland Million Classic along with all other races from the card will be televised on TVG.

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Read on to learn about the contenders for this year’s Maryland Million Classic.

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1. Dashing Lou (30-1 morning-line odds)

Jockey: Victor Rosales

Trainer: Gary Capuano

Owner: Non Stop Stable

Career record: 34 starts – 5 wins – 5 seconds – 3 thirds

Career earnings: $109,204

Earnings per start: $3,211

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 89

Pedigree: Orientate – Beautiful Lu, by Gone West

Age: 7

Color: Dark bay or brown

Running style: Stalker/closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: One of two contenders in this race for Gary Capuano, Dashing Lou will almost certainly be the biggest longshot in the field. He’s won just once in the past two years, in a conditioned claiming race at Laurel on Nov. 8, 2020. He hasn’t come that close to winning this year, posting three third-place finishes from nine starts on the season. He returns to the dirt after some tries on grass, and it would be notable if could even come close to winning this race. Capuano has won four Maryland Million races in his career, but is still searching for his first Classic.

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2. Prendimi (12-1)

Jockey: Mychel Sanchez

Trainer: Luis Carvajal Jr.

Owner: G. J. Stable

Career record: 29 starts – 5 wins – 9 seconds – 5 thirds

Career earnings: $388,620

Earnings per start: $13,401

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 104

Pedigree: Dance With Ravens – Cigno d’Oro, by Tour d’Oro

Age: 6

Color: Dark bay or brown

Running style: Press the pace

Notable achievements and interesting facts: This New Jersey-bred gelding has enjoyed the most success in his home state. All three of his stakes victories have come at Monmouth Park against fellow Jersey-breds. In 2019, he finished second in the Maryland Million Classic, beaten just half a length at 11.90-1. In last year’s Classic, he set the early pace and stopped badly. So far this season, he has yet to win in five starts, finishing second in his lone two-turn dirt race so far this year, the Charles Hesse III Handicap at Monmouth. Prendimi is likely to be on or near the pace and his connections are hoping for a result more like the one two years ago than last year. Mychel Sanchez primarily rides at Parx Racing but has also enjoyed success in Maryland. At the current Laurel Park meet, he’s won nine races from 42 mounts through Oct. 20. Luis Carvajal Jr. is best known as the trainer of top sprinter Imperial Hint.

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3. Torch of Truth (4-1)

Jockey: Julian Pimentel

Trainer: Mike Trombetta

Owner: Marie Trombetta

Career record: 22 starts – 4 wins – 7 seconds – 4 thirds

Career earnings: $199,767

Earnings per start: $9,080

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 104

Pedigree: Not For Love – Amber Comet, by Amerrico’s Bullet

Age: 6

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Stalker/closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: This gelding finished fourth in the Maryland Million Classic in 2019, but he’s been doing most of his racing in sprints as of late. He’s coming off a win in an allowance optional claiming race at Timonium on Aug. 27, where he rallied and just got up to win in a photo finish over Youngest of Five. That rival came back to win against a tough allowance optional claiming field at Laurel last Sunday. As for Torch of Truth, he tends to sit towards the back of the pack and make a big late rally. One might think that strategy would be effective in routes, but he was well-beaten in his only route race so far this year after a wide trip. He’s won around two turns in the past but he remains a question mark going a route of ground. Mike Trombetta is third in the standings at the current Laurel meet, with eight wins through Oct. 20.

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4. Crouchelli (10-1)

Jockey: Leonardo Corujo

Trainer: Robert Vukelic

Owner: Robert Vukelic

Career record: 41 starts – 4 wins – 5 seconds – 4 thirds

Career earnings: $244,675

Earnings per start: $5,968

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 100

Pedigree: Outflanker – Likeunotloveu, by Not For Love

Age: 6

Color: Dark bay or brown

Running style: Closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: After a long losing streak, Crouchelli has found his best form as of late. He’s won two races in a row, including a head victory at Timonium last out where he posted a career-best Equibase Speed Figure. He tends to come from far behind, which, while exciting to watch, often puts him at a disadvantage compared to his rivals. In both of his starts he just barely got up, and if he wins Saturday, it’ll likely be in the same desperate, dramatic style. Still, he’s in career-best form, and at the least, he has enough of a closing kick to rally for second or third and complete some exotic wagers.

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5. Ain’t Da Beer Cold (20-1)

Jockey: Angel Cruz

Trainer: Kenny Cox

Owners: Matt Spencer, Kelly Jo Cox, and Bonuccelli Racing

Career record: 9 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $94,542

Earnings per start: $10,505

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 90

Pedigree: Freedom Child – Distinct Affair, by With Distinction

Age: 3

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Pacesetter/press the pace

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Ain’t Da Beer Cold showed promise as a 2-year-old last year, winning twice over this track and finishing second by a nose in the Howard County Stakes. Following that Dec. 26 performance, he went to the sidelines and did not return to the races until Aug. 14. So far, the gelding hasn’t found his 2-year-old form in two starts as a sophomore, losing by a combined 38 lengths. In both starts he showed brief speed before backing up badly. Ain’t Da Beer Cold is now making his third start off a long layoff. Horses generally get better in their third race off a break, but he’d have to improve dramatically to win this race. He’s one of two 3-year-olds in this race. Last year, Monday Morning Qb became the first 3-year-old to win the Classic.

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6. Dream Big Dreams (4-1)

Jockey: Feargal Lynch

Trainer: Brittany Russell

Owners: Cash is King and LC Racing

Career record: 9 starts – 2 wins – 3 seconds – 1 third

Career earnings: $100,341

Earnings per start: $11,149

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 94

Pedigree: Bandbox – Buffgirl, by Quiet American

Age: 3

Color: Gray or roan

Running style: Closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: The other 3-year-old in the field after Ain’t Da Beer Cold looks to give Brittany Russell, who has recently emerged as one of the top trainers in Maryland, her first Maryland Million Classic win. Both of this gray colt’s wins have come at Laurel in dramatic style. Last out, he won an allowance race with a dramatic surge, making up five lengths in the last eighth of a mile to win by half a length. Dream Big Dreams has been consistent all year long, and he’ll look to take another leap forward in this race.

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7. The Poser (6-1)

Jockey: Horacio Karamanos

Trainer: Hamilton Smith

Owners:  Deborah Greene and Hamilton Smith

Career record: 21 starts – 3 wins – 4 seconds – 5 thirds

Career earnings: $159,248

Earnings per start: $7,583

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 102

Pedigree: Bandbox – Heavenly Moon, by Mojave Moon

Age: 4

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Press the pace

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Racing for veteran Maryland conditioner Hamilton Smith, this gelding lost to Crouchelli last out, getting out-nodded by that rival in a three-horse blanket finish. He hasn’t won this year but has slowly improved after getting some time off over the summer. The Poser will look to make some noise late, likely making his rally after rating off the pace on the outside. Smith has won more than 2,000 races and several Maryland Million events, but he’s still looking for his first Classic win. Jockey Horacio Karamanos is in third place in the Laurel rider standings, with 19 wins from 110 starters through Oct. 20.

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8. Tappin Cat (6-5)

Jockey: Jevian Toledo

Trainer: Gary Capuano

Owner: Non Stop Stable

Career record: 27 starts – 8 wins – 9 seconds – 3 thirds

Career earnings: $399,239

Earnings per start: $14,787

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 110

Pedigree: Tritap – Elusory, by Broken Vow

Age: 5

Color: Bay

Running style: Pacesetter

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Tappin Cat is the lone speed horse in the Maryland Million Classic, and the only contender in the field to win a stakes race this year. He rated right off the pace and won the DTHA Governors Day Handicap at Delaware Park last out for his third consecutive win. Saturday’s post draw is not ideal, as he’ll be stuck on the outside with a fairly short run into the first time. If any other horse shows a bit of speed, there’s a chance that Tappin Cat could get hung wide around the turn and lose ground. However, he’s much faster than anyone else drawn in the main body of this race, so he shouldn’t have much trouble getting to the lead. From there, he’ll be very tough to catch. Jevian Toledo is currently the leading jockey at the Laurel meet with 25 wins through Oct. 20.

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9. (also-eligible) Cordmaker (1-1)

Jockey: Victor Carrasco

Trainer: Rodney Jenkins

Owner: Hillwood Stable

Career record: 32 starts – 10 wins – 4 seconds – 7 thirds

Career earnings: $674,640

Earnings per start: $21,083

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 111

Pedigree: Curlin – Tanca, by Polish Numbers

Age: 6

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Pacesetter

Notable achievements and interesting facts: There’s five also-eligibles in the race, all of whom are Maryland-bred but not Maryland-sired. They can draw in with any scratch. A defection would certainly shake things up, as Cordmaker would loom as a serious contender should he get in. He’s a two-time stakes winner this year, having most recently taken the Victory Gallop Stakes at Colonial Downs in August. He’s run at least a 100 Equibase Speed Figure nine times in a row, a mark most of his rivals have struggled to hit in any of their starts. If he makes the race, Cordmaker should sit a great trip right off the lead and will be ready to roll late. He went off at 5.30-1 in the Maryland Million Classic last year, but was forced to check during the race and finished fifth.

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10. (also-eligible) McElmore Avenue (5-2)

Jockey: Horacio Karamanos

Trainer: Mary Eppler

Owner: Mary Eppler Racing Stable and RAM Racing Stable

Career record: 18 starts – 6 wins – 5 seconds – 1 third

Career earnings: $224,084

Earnings per start: $12,449

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 107

Pedigree: El Padrino – To Give, by Bluegrass Cat

Age: 4

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Pacesetter/stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: This gelding finished second behind Cordmaker two races back in the Victory Gallop Stakes and has hit the board in six of eight starts this year. Last fall and winter, he won four races in a row at Laurel. McElmore Avenue also runs triple-digit Equibase figures pretty consistently, and he’ll be a serious threat if he draws in.

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11. (also-eligible) Closer Look (5-1)

Jockey: TBA

Trainer: Kieron Magee

Owner: Helen Marshall

Career record: 30 starts – 6 wins – 6 seconds – 7 thirds

Career earnings: $231,997

Earnings per start: $7,733

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 102

Pedigree: Take Charge Indy – Willa On the Move, by Two Punch

Age: 5

Color: Dark bay or brown

Running style: Pacesetter

Notable achievements and interesting facts: A regular in allowance optional claiming races and starter optional claiming races at the Maryland tracks for a while, Closer Look was claimed out of an impressive 8 ½-length win for $25,000 in July by Kieron Magee. Since then, he has finished seventh in the Find Stakes against similar horses he may face Saturday, and then was fourth in a second-level allowance optional claiming race last out. With some speed horses drawn to his inside, Closer Look runs the risk of getting hung wide around the first turn, which may compromise his chances.

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12. (also-eligible) Dr. Ferber (20-1)

Jockey: Mychel Sanchez

Trainer: Gary Contessa

Owner: Bell Gable Stable

Career record: 12 starts – 2 wins – 2 seconds – 4 thirds

Career earnings: $68,469

Earnings per start: $5,706

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 86

Pedigree: Lookin at Lucky – Thrill Seeker, by Housebuster

Age: 3

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Dr. Ferber spent his summer racing at Delaware Park, and closed his season there with an impressive 5 ¼-length win on Oct. 6. However, that was in a conditioned claiming race against a much softer field than he’ll see if he makes the Maryland Million Classic. His top speed figure is several points slower than those of his rivals, and he’ll have to take a big leap forward to win this race. I’m not sure where that leap would come from.

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13. (also-eligible) Alwaysmining (5-1)

Jockey: Mychel Sanchez

Trainer: Cathal Lynch

Owner: Runnymoore Racing

Career record: 31 starts – 10 wins – 2 seconds – 5 thirds

Career earnings: $616,799

Earnings per start: $19,897

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 117

Pedigree: Stay Thirsty – What Will Be, by Anees

Age: 5

Color: Dark bay or brown

Running style: Stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Alwaysmining won five consecutive stakes races between his 2-year-old and 3-year-old seasons, and was the fourth betting choice in the 2019 Preakness Stakes. But this Stay Thirsty gelding was well-beaten that day and since then has had up-and-down form. All 10 of his wins have come on the Laurel main track. Away from this surface, he’s 0-for-13. He’s shown glimmers of his old self this year but was dismal in the Polynesian Stakes on Sept. 18 and will need a bounce-back performance to win the Maryland Million Classic should he draw in.