Miracle Wood Stakes
| Ungraded Stakes race | |
|---|---|
| Miracle Wood Stakes | |
| Location | Laurel Park Racecourse, Laurel, Maryland,  United States  |
| Inaugurated | 1995 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www.Laurelpark.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 7 furlongs |
| Track | Dirt, left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-years-old, open |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | $100,000 |
The Miracle Wood Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held in February at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. The Miracle Wood, is open to three-year-olds willing to race seven furlongs on the dirt. It was the 18th running of the stakes race in 2012.
An ungraded stakes, it offers a purse of $100,000.[1] The Miracle Wood is also one of Maryland's triple crown prep races. The winner of the race typically moves on to compete in the Private Terms Stakes held in March at Laurel Park Racecourse as well, but winners have also ventured off to New York and Kentucky for their next races to see if they are worthy of continuing on the Triple Crown Trail.[2]
The race itself was named in honor of Miracle Wood, a champion Maryland bred colt that went on to win many races and accolades. In 2008 the race was shortened from one mile to the current distance of seven furlongs. During the first eleven years of the race (1993–2003) the race was run at a distance of 1-1/16 miles (8.5 furlongs).
The most memorable Miracle Wood Stakes was the 2006 edition in which Sweetnorthernsaint set a record winning margin of ten lengths. Sweetnorthernsaint went on to win the Illinois Derby that year and was the post time favorite in the 132nd Kentucky Derby. A local horse based at Laurel Park Racecourse, Sweetnorthernsaint went on to become a millionaire and place second in the state's biggest race, the Preakness Stakes.
Records
Speed record:
- 7 furlongs - 1:23.22 - The Lumber Guy (2012)
- 1 mile - 1:36.75 - Extrasexyhippzster (2014)
- 1-1/16 miles - 1:43.00 - Gimmeawink (2003)
Most wins by an owner:
- no owner has the Miracle Wood Stakes more than once
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 - Mario Pino (1997, 2002, 2006 & 2007)
- 3 - Julian Pimentel (2008, 2012 & 2014)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 - Michael Trombetta (2006, 2007 & 2014)
Winners of the Miracle Wood Stakes since 1995
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Distance | Time | Purse |
| 2014 | Extrasexyhippzster | 3 | Julian Pimentel | Michael J Trombetta | Kirwan Equine Group | 1 mile | 1:36.75 | $100,000 |
| 2013 | Dynamic Strike | 3 | Forrest Boyce | Richard Small | Fitzhugh LLC | 7 fur. | 1:40.58 | $125,000 |
| 2012 | The Lumber Guy | 3 | Julian Pimentel | Michael Hushion | Barry K. Schwartz | 7 fur. | 1:23.22 | $100,000 |
| 2011 | J J's Lucky Train | 3 | Jose C. Ferrer | William D. Anderson | Fresh Start Stable | 7 fur. | 1:23.60 | $75,000 |
| 2010 | Don't Blame the Cat | 3 | Erick Rodriguez | Richard Dutrow, Jr. | Mary Raymond | 7 fur. | 1:23.62 | $70,000 |
| 2009 | Rock On Justin | 3 | Tony Maragh | Gary Capuano | Non Stop Stable’s | 7 fur. | 1:24.58 | $75,000 |
| 2008 | Gattopardo | 3 | Julian Pimentel | Timothy Tullock Jr. | Germania Farm | 7 fur. | 1:24.16 | $90,000 |
| 2007 | Crafty Bear | 3 | Mario Pino | Michael Trombetta | Harry Meyerhoff | 1 mile | 1:38.55 | $75,000 |
| 2006 | Sweetnorthernsaint | 3 | Mario Pino | Michael Trombetta | Joe Balsamo/Ted Theos | 1 mile | 1:38.69 | $75,000 |
| 2005 | Malibu Moonshine | 3 | Steve Hamilton | King T. Leatherbury | Woodrow Marriott | 1 mile | 1:40.25 | $75,000 |
| 2004 | Water Cannon | 3 | Ramon Dominguez | Linda Albert | Nonsequitur Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:38.99 | $65,000 |
| 2003 | Gimmeawink | 3 | Jeremy Rose | Timothy F. Ritchey | Walter Weinkowitz | 1-1/16 | 1:43.07 | $60,000 |
| 2002 | Saratoga Blues | 3 | Mario Pino | Anthony W. Dutrow | Alvin Akman | 1-1/16 | 1:45.80 | $60,000 |
| 2001 | Talk is Money | 3 | Edgar Prado | John Scanlon | Daniel Borislow | 1-1/16 | 1:45.96 | $67,000 |
| 2000 | Connect | 3 | Ryan Fogelsonger | Leslie Saunders | John R. Rastetter | 1-1/16 | 1:51.40 | $45,000 |
| 1999 | Ewer All Wet | 3 | Edgar Prado | Rodney Jenkins | Kathryn Clark | 1-1/16 | 1:44.80 | $45,000 |
| 1998 | Mister Business | 3 | Joe Rocco | Richard E. Dutrow | Swan and Cygnet Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:45.20 | $45,000 |
| 1997 | South West Hostage | 3 | Mario Pino | Ferris Allen | Wombat Racing Stable | 5.5 fur. | 1:05.60 | $30,000 |
| 1996 | Game Quoit | 3 | Mark Johnston | Donald H. Barr | Donald H. Barr | 5.5 fur. | 1:03.20 | $30,000 |
| 1995 | South Bend | 3 | Albert Delgado | Barbara M. Kees | Barbara M. Kees | 7 fur | 1:25.20 | $30,000 |
See also
References
- ↑ Purse amount listed on Laurel Park website
- ↑ 2007 Maryland Jockey Club Media Guide, page 88 on March 3, 2007.