Maryland Sprint Handicap
| Grade III race | |
| Location | Pimlico Race Course,  Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1987 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 6 furlong sprint |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-years-old & up |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | $150,000 |
The Maryland Sprint Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the third week of May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. A Grade III event open to horses three-years-old and up, it is contested on dirt over a distance of six furlongs.
The Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint Handicap was born in 1987 and its inaugural run was held at Laurel Park Racecourse at seven furlongs. Since its second running, the race has been run on the Preakness Stakes undercard at six furlongs. The race has been run with several variations of name changes beginning as the Maryland Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap from 1987-1995. From 1996-2005 the race was called the Maryland Breeders' Cup Handicap and in 2005 and 2006 it was called the Emeriates Airline Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint.[1]
The Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint Handicap was made American graded stakes race, earning grade 3 status beginning in 1994.[2]
Records
Speed record: (at current distance of six furlongs)
- 1:09.07 - Forest Wildcat (1996)
Most wins:
- No horse has won this race more than once.
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 - Jerry Bailey (1993, 1998, 1999)
- 3 - Edgar Prado (1994, 2005, 2008)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 - D. Wayne Lukas (1995, 1999, 2002)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 - Overbrook Farm (1995, 2002)
Winners of the Maryland Sprint Handicap since 1987
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Dist. |
Time |
Purse |
Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Always Sunshine | 4 | Frankie Pennington | Edward T. Allard | Stonehedge LLC | 6 fur. | 1:10.49 | $150,000 | III |
| 2015 | Sandbar | 4 | Joel Rosario | Joe Sharp | Sarah & Ken Ramsey | 6 fur. | 1:09.81 | $150,000 | III |
| 2014 | Happy My Way | 4 | Joe Bravo | Joseph Orseno | Sagamore Farm | 6 fur. | 1:09.21 | $150,000 | III |
| 2013 | Sage Valley | 4 | John Velazquez | Rudy Rodriguez | Dubb | 6 fur. | 1:10.51 | $150,000 | III |
| 2012 | Hamazing Destiny | 6 | Corey Nakatani | D. Wayne Lukas | Westrock Stables | 6 fur. | 1:10.48 | $100,000 | III |
| 2011 | Ventana | 5 | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 6 fur. | 1:09.88 | $100,000 | III |
| 2010 | Taqarub | 4 | Eibar Coa | Kiaran McLaughlin | Shadwell Stable | 6 fur. | 1:10.02 | $100,000 | III |
| 2009 | Ravalo | 5 | John Velazquez | Donald H. Barr | Lindy M. Redding | 6 fur. | 1:09.95 | $200,000 | III |
| 2008 | Starforaday | 5 | Edgar Prado | Gary C. Contessa | Winning Move Stable | 6 fur. | 1:09.80 | $200,000 | III |
| 2007 | Diabolical | 4 | Mario Pino | Steve Klesaris | Jeff Puglisi | 6 fur. | 1:09.16 | $200,000 | III |
| 2006 | Friendly Island | 5 | Garrett Gomez | Todd A. Pletcher | Anstu Stables | 6 fur. | 1:09.94 | $200,000 | III |
| 2005 | Willy o'the Valley | 4 | Edgar Prado | Richard Dutrow | IEAH Stables et al. | 6 fur. | 1:09.95 | $200,000 | III |
| 2004 | Gators N Bears | 4 | Chuck C. Lopez | Leo S. Nechamkin | Leo S. Nechamkin | 6 fur. | 1:10.84 | $200,000 | III |
| 2003 | Pioneer Boy | 5 | Jeremy Rose | John J. Robb | Mike Gill | 6 fur. | 1:10.35 | $100,000 | III |
| 2002 | Snow Ridge | 4 | Mike E. Smith | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 6 fur. | 1:10.06 | $200,000 | III |
| 2001 | Disco Rico | 4 | Harry Vega | Valora Testerman | Alfred DiRico | 6 fur. | 1:10.40 | $200,000 | III |
| 2000 | Dr. Max | 4 | Shane Sellers | Gloria Wenderoth | M. Bernstein & R. Freeman | 6 fur. | 1:10.91 | $100,000 | III |
| 1999 | Yes It's True | 3 | Jerry Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | Padua Stable | 6 fur. | 1:09.20 | $200,000 | III |
| 1998 | Richter Scale | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Mary Jo Lohmeier | Nancy & Richard Kaster | 6 fur. | 1:09.45 | $200,000 | III |
| 1997 | Cat Be Nimble | 5 | Joe Rocco | Timothy F. Ritchey | Candy Stable | 6 fur. | 1:10.12 | $212,600 | III |
| 1996 | Forest Wildcat | 5 | Joe Bravo | Ben Perkins, Sr. | Fred Seitz & Everett Novak | 6 fur. | 1:09.07 | $216,200 | III |
| 1995 | Commanche Trail | 4 | Mike E. Smith | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 6 fur. | 1:09.35 | $154,750 | III |
| 1994 | Secret Odds | 4 | Edgar Prado | Lawrence Murray | Sondra D. Bender | 6 fur. | 1:10.38 | $154,750 | III |
| 1993 | Senor Speedy | 6 | Jerry Bailey | Alfredo Callejas | Robert Perez | 6 fur. | 1:09.69 | $155,650 | III |
| 1992 | Potentiality | 6 | Pat Day | Robert E. Holthus | Dan Jones & H. E. Sutton | 6 fur. | 1:10.25 | $155,500 | III |
| 1991 | Jeweler's Choice | 6 | Chris McCarron | John P. Hicks | Fourbros Stable | 6 fur. | 1:10.38 | $154,350 | III |
| 1990 | Norquestor | 4 | Craig Perret | Sonny Hine | Scott C. Savin | 6 fur. | 1:09.40 | $155,900 | III |
| 1989 | King's Nest | 4 | Joe Rocco | Richard Dutrow, Sr. | Sondra D. Bender | 6 fur. | 1:09.60 | $154,600 | III |
| 1988 | Fire Plug | 5 | Josiah Hampshire | Eddie Gaudet | Arthur I. Appleton | 6 fur. | 1:10.60 | $60,000 | |
| 1987 | Purple Mountain | 5 | Eliezer Ortiz, Jr. | Woody Sedlacek | Jacques Wimpfheimer | 6 fur. | 1:24.40 | $166,800 |
