Fortheluvofbourbon Wins $100,000 Sprint

BALTIMORE – It didn’t start out the way they planned, but CJI Phoenix Thoroughbreds and No Guts No Glory Farm’s Fille d’Esprit made sure Saturday’s $100,000 Maryland Million Distaff at Laurel Park ended exactly the way they hoped.

Already with three career stakes wins Fille d’Esprit ($5.40) became a Maryland Million winner for the first time in the 11th start of her 6-year-old season with a 1 ¼-length triumph over fellow multiple stakes winner Malibu Beauty in the seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3 and up.

The Distaff and $100,000 Sprint for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs were among eight stakes and four starter stakes that comprised the 37th Jim McKay Maryland Million Day program, ‘Maryland’s Day at the Races’ celebrating the progeny of stallions standing in the state.

Under jockey Xavier Perez, Fille d’Esprit covered the distance in 1:25.05 over a fast main track to give trainer Jerry Robb his ninth career Maryland Million win and second in the Distaff following Anna’s Bandit in 2019, also with Perez. Fille d’Esprit and Anna’s Bandit share the same sire, Great Notion, and grandsire, No Armistice.

“I told Xavier that we had to beat [Malibu Beauty] so try not to let her get the jump on us, but she did anyway. He sat and waited for it to open up and when it did, she fired big,” Robb said. “I thought we were the better filly because I have other fillies that beat [Malibu Beauty], like Street Lute, and this filly is better than Street Lute. She just needed a run and, luckily, she got it.”

Malibu Beauty, exiting an eight-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile George Rosenberger Memorial Oct. 1 at Delaware Park, was hustled to the front from Post 2 and led through a quarter-mile in 23.19 seconds and a half in 46.79 pressed by 13-1 long shot Fool Yourself. Perez and Fille d’Esprit settled in third, got into striking position on the turn, overcame a game Malibu Beauty turning for home and edged clear.

“The intention breaking from the rail was to use the same tactic we used [before] and just try to head for the lead,” Perez said. “We got a perfect rail ride. Turning for home I saw [Fool Yourself] start slowing down and I tipped out, and it was game over from that point on. She switched to her right lead, and she just fired on.”

Malibu Beauty stayed up for second, a length ahead of Sweet Gracie with Bourbon Wildcat another 2 ½ lengths back in fourth. They were followed by Fool Yourself, Wicked Hot, Breviary, Summer Odds and Courageous Girl. Maryland-breds R B’s Star and Edie Meeny Miny Mo were scratched.

Fille d’Esprit ran sixth behind Hello Beautiful’s historic victory in last year’s Distaff, her first start in more than 10 months. Claimed for $10,000 in August 2020 out of her third career start, Fille d’Esprit won for the fourth this year and 11th overall, pushing her over the $500,000 mark in purse earnings.

“I was so confident. I know she was just going to keep on going and not let anybody go by her,” Perez said. “She’s got such a heart. She’s got the same bloodlines as Anna’s Bandit and that’s the reason Jerry claimed her to begin with.

“She never disappoints me, even when she’s a little naughty in the morning. She misbehaves sometimes but I understand,” he added. “I’ve been dealing with her for two years so we’ve gotten to bond pretty nice. Hopefully she keeps kicking [butt].”

Fortheluvofbourbon Wins $100,000 Sprint

Smart Angle LLP’s Fortheluvofbourbon, off at 1-2, moved three-wide entering the stretch under jockey Paco Lopez and drove to victory in the $125,000 Sprint.

A 5-year-old gelded son of Bourbon Courage, Fortheluvofbourbon covered the six furlongs in 1:10.96 and beat Karan’s Notion by 1 ½ lengths. It was a neck back to Alwaysinahurry in third.

Fortheluvofbourbon has now won 12 of 23 starts for more than $600,00 and is seven of nine on the year for trainer Michael Pino.

Heir Port broke on top in the Sprint and set an opening quarter in :22.57 and half in :45.87 while Karan’s Notion sat just outside. Entering the stretch, Fortheluvofbourbon moved three wide outside the leaders. Despite game efforts by Heir Port and Karan’s Notion, the 1-2 favorite proved too good.

Hemp, Air Token, Elusive Agent, Rominski and Katie’s Notion were scratched.