Shkhara Fire Goes Last to First $100,000 Lassie

BALTIMORE – No Guts No Glory Farm homebred Do It for Michael got out to an early lead, set a solid pace and had something left to hold off stakes winner Re Markably in deep stretch for a determined neck victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Maryland Million Nursery at Laurel Park.

The Nursery for 2-year-olds and Lassie for 2-year-old fillies, both sprinting six furlongs, were among eight stakes and four starter stakes worth $1.08 million in purses on ‘Maryland’s Day at the Races’ celebrating the progeny of stallions standing in the state.

It was the second straight Nursery win for trainer John ‘Jerry’ Robb following Catahoula Moon, later named Maryland’s champion 2-year-old male of 2023. Robb, second by three wins to Dale Capuano in Maryland Million history with 12, also won the Nursery with Run Alden (1993) and Glib (2011).

Breaking from Post 4 under jockey Xavier Perez, Do It for Michael ($7) established command early while pressed on his right hip by 19-1 long shot Kerness K with Lil Sebastian alongside in third and Re Markably further out in the clear in fourth. The opening quarter-mile went in 22.20 seconds and they approached the stretch following a 45.76 half-mile.

Do It for Michael continued to race near the rail with Aug. 14 Dover winner Re Markably giving chase down the center of the track when Do It for Michael began to drift out slightly inside the eighth pole but dug in to hold off Re Markably after going 1:10.57 over a fast main track.

“I did [expect him to go to the lead]. He’s quick,” Robb said. “He’s done everything right. I don’t know how good he could be.”

Sacred Thunder, All the Hardways, 9-5 favorite Say Me True, Barbadian Runner, Kerness K and Lil Sebastian completed the order of finish. Great Quality was scratched.

Do It for Michael won his debut by 2 ½ lengths in a five-furlong waiver maiden claimer June 30 at Laurel. He rallied to be second after a troubled rip in the 5 ½-furlong Hickory Tree Aug. 3 at Colonial Downs, and last time out was a front-running 1 ½-length optional claiming allowance winner Sept. 14 at Laurel. Now three-for-four lifetime, the Uncle Lino colt has never been favored.

Uncle Lino was a stakes winner and Grade 3-placed at 1 1/16 miles. Out of the mare Gracie’s Hero, Do It for Michael is a half-brother to Mama G’s Wish, a 10-time winner of more than $390,000 in purses from 34 starts also bred, owned and trained by Robb.

“The race he lost he got in all kinds of trouble. He walked out of the gate and he stumbled real bad, came flying and got the lead and then got caught,” Robb said. “His siblings were all high-end allowance horses and I think he’s the best of all of them. The family would go a mile and not a step farther, but maybe with the Uncle Lino [he will]. We’ll find out.”

Shkhara Fire Goes Last to First in $100,000 Lassie

Shkhara Fire, bred and owned by Barak Farm and Dino’s Thoroughbreds, LLC, might have broken last in the $100,000 Maryland Million Lassie, but the 2-year-old Friesen Fire filly was the first to cross the wire in the six-furlong event.

“We did not have the trip we expected,” trainer Jose Corrales said, “but we got the finish we expected,”

Out of the Langfuhr mare Rysy, Shkhara Fire covered the six furlongs in 1:11.24.

Coming into the race off a second-place finish against allowance optional company here Sept. 14, Shkhara Fire trailed as Biscuitwiththeboss set an on opening quarter in :22.01 while being pressed by Rapido Rosa. Malibu Hooch raced third.

Entering the stretch, Malibu Hooch took a clear lead from the two pacesetters and opened up on the rest of the field. But down the middle of the track, Shkhara Fire rallied under jockey Angel Cruz to get up by a neck at the finish line.

“I know this filly breaks a little bit slow,” Cruz said. “Last time I finished second and I got to know her better. She’s real professional. Jose Corrales took his time with her. We took her to the gate; we schooled her and she was better today. She broke a step slow, but I didn’t matter today…She’s going to love going longer.”

Shkhara Fire returned $19.80.