BALTIMORE, 05-24-13---Spicer Cub became a YouTube sensation when his behavior in a maiden race on April 13 at Pimlico Race Course went viral. The Mary Eppler trainee returns in Saturday’s opener, a $40,000 maiden special weight at 1 1/16 miles.

In his last race, Spicer Cub took an early lead but bolted midway on the far turn before jockey Xavier Perez was able to straighten the son of Louis Quatorze at the head of the stretch. The 4-year old gelding regained the lead at the top of the stretch but bolted again, causing Perez to lose his irons inside the three-sixteenths pole. The duo then raced between the parked starting gate and the outside rail in midstretch and closed determinedly under strong urging to just miss winning, losing by a nose to Turbin.

The replay of the race on YouTube https://youtu.be/FbH3N5VJzBE has been viewed more than 116,000 times, more than any other race on the Maryland racing page. It was well received on both Twitter and Facebook in the days following the race and was included in NBC Sports Network’s coverage last weekend at Pimlico.

“A couple weeks after the incident (April 25), Mary called and asked me to work him,” said Perez, who will be aboard Spicer Cub again tomorrow. “She put special blinkers and he worked well. Hopefully he will not do it again, but to be honest I am little bit nervous after what he did last month.”

Spicer Cub, who has three consecutive runner-up finishes, is 7-2 on the morning line. The six-horse field also includes Nashly’s Vow, the 5-2 program favorite, and stakes tested Tru Greek (3-1).

RUSSELL, PEREZ MOVE CLOSER TO TOP SPOT IN RIDER STANDINGS

With eight days remaining in the Pimlico spring meet, the race for the top spot in the rider standings is still up for grabs. Perez and Sheldon Russell each rode a winner on Friday’s 10-race card to move to within one victory of apprentice Yomar Ortiz, who has crossed the wire first 22 times since the meet opened April 4.

Juan Vazquez has a comfortable lead in the trainer standings with 22 winners, nine more than Scott Lake.

The stand ends Saturday, June 8. First post on the closing card has been changed to 12:45 p.m., 25 minutes earlier than the May 25, 26, 27, 31, June 1, 2 and 7 programs.

About Pimlico Race Course

Historic Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness® Stakes, the middle jewel in horse racing's famed Triple Crown, first opened its doors on October 25, 1870, and is the second oldest racetrack in the United States. Pimlico has played host to racing icons and Baltimoreans have seen the likes of legendary horses such as Man o’ War, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Affirmed and Cigar thunder down the stretch in thrilling and memorable competition. For more information on Pimlico, visit www.pimlico.com.

Pimlico Race Course is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.