40th Jim McKay Maryland Million Attracts 244 Pre-Entries 

The reigning Maryland-bred Horse of the Year Post Time and a collection of previous Maryland Million Day winners are among the 244 pre-entries for the 40th Jim McKay Maryland Million Day, which will take place at Laurel Park on Oct. 11.

Post Time, pre-entered in the $150,000 Classic and $125,000 Turf, would be making his first Maryland Million Day appearance. He has never lost at his home track, winning all 10 of his starts at Laurel Park thus far. A winner of three of his six outings this year, he most recently ran third in the Woodward Stakes-G2 in New York. He is one of 17 Classic pre-entries, which include 3-year-old Barbadian Runner, a son of Barbados who won the $500,000 Robert Hilton Memorial at Charles Town last out and has been on the board in seven stakes this year; and last year’s Classic second and third-place finishers Mosler Time (Mosler) and Mugatu (Blofeld).

The Turf has 19 pre-entries. Sky’s Not Falling, winner of the 2022 Maryland Million Turf Sprint, was second by a nose in last year’s Turf at the added distance. The son of Seville (Ger) has more than $470,000 in earnings and 17 top-three finishes on the grass. The Great Notion gelding Jack’s Legend, a full brother to two-time Turf winner Talk Show Man, ran third in last year’s Turf in only his second career start and has finished in the top three in five of his six grass starts.

A half-dozen Maryland Million Turf Sprint veterans, including 2023 top three finishers Witty (Great Notion), Whenigettoheaven (Street Magician) and Tidewater (Outflanker), and 2024 second and third-place runners Great Idea (Great Notion) and Had to Have Him (Force the Pass), are among 16 pre-entries in the $100,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint.

The $125,000 Ladies is again on the agenda for Precious Avary, who won in 2023 and just missed when second last year. The daughter of Divining Rod is one of 21 pre-entered. Last year’s Turf Distaff Starter winner Next Girl, also a daughter of Divining Rod, appears on the nominations list.

Defending Maryland Million Distaff winner Foxy Junior highlights 25 pre-entries for this year’s edition of the $100,000 race. A 5-year-old daughter of 2008 Maryland Million Classic winner Cuba, Dianne Stern’s homebred won last year’s Distaff by three-quarters of a length over Sheilah’s Warcloud, who is also pre-entered. Among other nominees are 2025 stakes winners Onyx Ten, Safe Trust, Stickwiththecolors and last year’s Maryland Million Lassie winner Shkhara Fire.

The $100,000 Sprint has 21 pre-entered, including last year’s Maryland Million Nursery winner Do It for Michael (Uncle Lino), 2025 Star de Naskra Stakes winner Slam Notion (Great Notion), and Barbadian Runner, who has won or finished second in his last five races, all stakes.

A total of 24 fillies are pre-entered in the $100,000 Lassie, including Just Philtored (Great Notion), a two-time stakes winner and undefeated in three starts, and Slewperstitus (Great Notion), who finished second to Just Philtored in both of stakes.

The $100,000 Nursery has 31 pre-entered, with stakes winner Live Stream (Long River) among the main contenders.

Maryland Million Day action is rounded out by four starter handicaps: the Turf Distaff Starter (17 pre-entries) and Turf Starter (16 pre-entries), each worth $50,000, and the Starter (20 pre-entries) and Distaff Starter (16 pre-entries), worth $40,000 apiece.

The stakes are open to Maryland-bred runners if the race has less than eight Maryland Million-eligible entries, for the sole purpose of maintaining a field size of eight. Maryland Million-certified horses get first preference in the starter handicaps, which are limited to 14 starters.

A complete list of pre-entries, past performances, and information on sires is available here.