BALTIMORE, 05-19-12 – Westrock Stables LLC & Barry Butzow’s Hamazing Destiny sat off a spirited duel before surging past the leaders to win the $100,000 Maryland Sprint Handicap (G3) Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.

Corey Nakatani rode the son of Salt Lake for legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Hamazing Destiny ran the six-furlong distance in 1:10.48 and finished 1-1/2 lengths ahead of Bandbox, with Action Andy rallying to take third.

Winning for the first time in two years, Hamazing Destiny paid $7.80.

Maryland Sprint Handicap Quotes

D. Wayne Lukas (winning trainer, Hamazing Destiny)– “He was the favorite and he ran like it. I thought Corey did a nice job. I was a bit worried when they threw up that 23 (second for the first quarter). I thought, ‘Well, they’re not going very fast, and we’re still in it. The horse liked the track. It’s a good way to start the day.”

 Corey Nakatani (winning jockey, Hamazing Destiny) – “The trip was great. He broke alertly and they weren’t going as fast as they were at Churchill last time. So it helped to get in a real stalking position. Coach (Lukas) wanted me to be just off them like we were. It enabled him to run his best race. He ran a tremendous race.”

Rodney Jenkins (trainer, Bandbox, 2^nd)– “He ran like I thought he would. You can’t rush him. He gets erratic. He came off the layoff and ran great. Abel gave him a great ride.”

Abel Castellano Jr. (jockey, Bandbox, 2^nd)– “He got himself together nicely after the break. He wants you to lay back before his run. He was running good on the outside and gave me his best when asked for run.”

Carlos Garcia (trainer, Action Andy, 3^rd)– “The track was not conducive for him today. It was a little cuppy and he doesn’t like that. Once he got outside to the better part of the track he put in his run.”

Horacio Karamanos (jockey, Action Andy, 3^rd)– “We got squeezed at the start by the 1 and the 3 and he didn’t like that a bit. We were able to maintain good position after that. I moved him outside. He put in his run today. He ran well.”