Racing returned to Maryland with perhaps something less than a bang at Timonium this weekend: 4-5 favorite Athabaskan Hero won the first race back in Maryland since June 7, a $5,000 maiden claimer for three-year-olds and up going four furlongs. Â Running time was a modest 48 seconds flat.
The numbers generally were down a bit from 2013, but plenty of folks were happy to see racing return to the Free State.
Herewith, the weekend wrap:
By the numbers
- Average daily attendance – 1,877 (down about 10 percent from 2,083 a year ago).
- Average on-track handle – $101,968 (down 11 percent from last year)
- Daily average total handle – $359,555 (down 11 percent)
- Total races run – 28
- Average horses/race – 6.49 (down 8.6 percent)
Maidens no more
The following horses broke their maidens during the opening weekend:
- Athabaskan Hero, 4yo gelding
- Start Puffing, 2yo filly
- Great Start, 2yo filly
- Purely Dunn, 3yo colt
- Tom Cats Line, 2yo colt
- My Vet’s A Genius, 2yo colt
- Justthewayitis, 3yo colt
- Happy Retreat, 3yo filly
Allowance winners
- Sniper, N1x
- Indian Bucks, N1x
- Linda’s Lollipop, N1x
- Irish Moon, N1x
- Donita’s Ruler, N1x
- A.P. Cino, N3x
Claimed horses
- Q’s Jack, by trainer Thomas Iannotti/owner Glen Gaddy, $5,000
- Toni With an I, by trainer Wayne Potts/owner Barak Farm, $5,000
- Emelina, by trainer/owner Hubert Cave, $5,000
- Gator Gone Wild, by trainer Charles Frock/owner C and B Stables
- Distinctive Lady, by trainer Jamie Ness/owner Jagger Inc.
Meet leaders
Through three days of racing, the meet leaders are…
- Jockey: J.D. Acosta, 4 wins
- Trainer: Rodney Jenkins, King Leatherbury, John Salzman Sr., Hamilton Smith, 2 each
- Owner: Hillwood Stable LLC, The Jim Stable, Kenneth Taylor and John Salzman Sr., 2 each
