- Miracle Wood Stakes
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Ungraded Stakes race Miracle Wood Stakes Location Laurel Park Racecourse, 
Laurel, Maryland, United StatesInaugurated 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 $75,000 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 15th running of the stakes race in 2009.
An ungraded stakes, it offers a purse of $75,000. [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.
Contents
Records
Speed record:
- 7 furlongs - 1:23.60 - J J's Lucky Train (2011)
- 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)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 2 - Michael Trombetta (2006 & 2007)
Winners of the Miracle Wood Stakes
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse 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 Joseph 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, Sr. 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 Barr Donald 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
External links
Categories:- Horse races in the United States
- Triple Crown Prep Races
- Laurel Park Racecourse
- Horse races in Maryland
- Recurring sporting events established in 1995
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