Admirals War Chest Seeks Third 'Million' Classic

Dr. Stephen Sinatra's homebred Admirals War Chest will look to become the first horse to win three consecutive editions of the $150,000 Maryland Million Classic Stakes Oct. 21 at Laurel Park, but he'll have to find a stark reversal of form to do so.

The Elusive Charlie gelding trained by Corby Caiazzo sped to victory twice in the 1 1/8-mile test for Maryland-breds—by a neck in 2015 and by 3 1/2 lengths in 2016—but his last two races have not been encouraging.

After his Maryland Million Classic victory last year, he was beaten 19 3/4 lengths in 10th in the Richard W. Small Stakes to close out his 2016 campaign, then was beaten 12 3/4 lengths in a fifth-place finish in an off-the-turf conditional optional claiming allowance Oct. 7 at Laurel, his first start of the year.

A victory in the Maryland Million Classic would make Admirals War Chest the second horse to win the race three times, following Eighttofasttocatch, who won in 2011, 2013, and 2014.

"We're pretty excited about trying to get that done," Caiazzo said. "It's been a rocky road for him this year, but we're looking to rebound and he's starting to do really good again. Hopefully he'll peak on Saturday. It's a one-shot chance to do it three years in a row.

"I just think it would be great for racing and great for Maryland. Eighttofasttocatch is like a legend with all the races he won there. For him to be in the category of horses like him and Timely Warning, and all those old crafty horses would be pretty amazing. He fights hard. He's like an old war horse."

Caiazzo said things haven't gone as planned this year for the 6-year-old, but he may be rounding into a good race.

"I gave him the winter off to let his feet grow and heal (from a quarter crack)," Caiazzo said. "When I brought him back and had him almost ready to run, he had a little setback, which kind of threw us (behind) the eight ball. Then I couldn't get a race to go for him to prep for the Million, so we ended up running last week, which wasn't by design. ... The horse is doing good right now. He likes the cool weather and he's starting to come back to good form."

Invading from New York and taking a drop in class is Three Diamonds Farm's Bonus Points for trainer Todd Pletcher. Twice stakes-placed at Laurel, the 3-year-old Majestic Warrior colt has been racing in graded company for much of 2017. Although he has only one win this season—which came in the May 6 Parx Derby—he's placed in two others, including the Jan. 2 Jerome Stakes (G3), and finished fourth last time out in the Sept. 4 Smarty Jones Stakes (G3). Bonus Points is also cross-entered in the  Maryland Million Turf Stakes on the same day.

Entering on a three-race win streak is Gladys Martinez's Clubman. The Jonathan Maldonado trainee most recently won a starter allowance at Parx Racing Sept. 5, which came after back-to-back scores in Laurel allowances in July and August.

The Classic is one of seven stakes and four starter stakes that comprise the 32nd annual Jim McKay Maryland Million Day program, named for the late Hall of Fame broadcaster who helped launch the concept in 1986.

Entries: Maryland Million Classic S.

Laurel Park, Saturday, October 21, 2017, Race 10

• STK
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $150,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 5:13 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Admirals War Chest (MD)	Steve D. Hamilton	119	Corby Caiazzo	10/1
2	2John Jones (MD)	Jevian Toledo	119	Lacey Gaudet	2/1
3	3Jerandson (NJ)	Nik Juarez	114	Todd A. Pletcher	15/1
4	4Ballivor (MD)	Luis J. Rodriguez	119	Carlos A. Mancilla	30/1
5	5Bonus Points (MD)	UNKNOWN	118	Todd A. Pletcher	3/1
6	6Nicaradalic Rocks (MD)	UNKNOWN	119	Kieron Magee	15/1
7	7Legend's Hope (MD)	Forest Boyce	119	Edward Maher	30/1
8	8Takethattothebank (MD)	Edgar S. Prado	119	William M. Sienkewicz	20/1
9	9Clubman (MD)	Sheldon Russell	114	Jonathan Maldonado	10/1
10	10Flash McCaul (MD)	Julian Pimentel	119	Michael J. Trombetta	15/1
11	11Ghost Bay (MD)	Horacio Karamanos	119	W. Robert Bailes	8/1
12	12Southside Warrior (MD)	Alex Cintron	119	Michael J. Trombetta	10/1