Air Token Making Title Defense in $100,000 Sprint

Originally published by the Maryland Jockey Club – October 19, 2022

Seeking a place to help Air Token rediscover his winning form, owner-trainer Jose Corrales will give the 5-year-old gelding a shot to become the first repeat winner of the $100,000 Maryland Million Sprint at Laurel Park.

The Sprint for 3-year-olds and up and $100,000 Distaff for fillies and mares 3 and older, both going seven furlongs, are among eight stakes and four starter stakes on the 37th Jim McKay Maryland Million program, ‘Maryland’s Day at the Races’ celebrating the progeny of stallions standing in the state.

Highlighted by the $150,000 Classic for 3-year-olds and up, first race post time is 11:30 a.m.

Other than the $100,000 Nursery and $100,000 Lassie, which are restricted to 2-year-olds, the Sprint is the only major Maryland Million race not to have a horse win it twice since the groundbreaking event was launched in 1986. In addition to Air Token, this year’s event includes 2020 winner Karan’s Notion.

After facing just seven rivals last year, Air Token drew Post 12 in an overflow field of 16 for the Sprint that includes also-eligibles Rominski and Katie’s Notion.

Jockey J.D. Acosta gave Air Token a perfect trip en route to his 2 ¼-length triumph in last year’s Sprint, and was also aboard for a neck loss when third in the subsequent Howard & Sondra Bender Memorial as well as a five-length optional claiming allowance win to open his campaign Jan. 21.

Air Token raced twice more, finishing fifth in the General George (G3) and third in the Not For Love, before going to the sidelines in mid-March. He was fifth in return Sept. 3 at Delaware Park as well as his most recent start, the seven-furlong Challedon Oct. 1 at Laurel.

“He hasn’t run his best this year, but I think he will be better this time. I’m going to use J.D. again, who has won with him,” Corrales said. “He had a little issue that made me back off him a little bit. He came back good from the last race and he’s doing good right now. I feel good going in this race that he’s going to really perform, better than what he has been.”

Claimed for $10,000 in August 2020, Air Token is 4-for-8 lifetime at the distance including three wins in six tries at Laurel with one second and one third. Since last year’s Sprint he has been beaten by multiple stakes winners such as Whereshetoldmetogo, Cordmaker, Threes Over Deuces and Shackqueenking.

“It depends on how the race sets up for him, but he’ll be tough,” Corrales said. “He was very impressive last year, and he can do pretty much the same thing if things go the right way. The way he feels right now, if he runs the way he feels I think he’ll be as competitive as last year.”

Whiskey and You, Fortheluvofbourbon and Karan’s Notion also return from last year’s Sprint. Terry Overmier’s Whiskey and You has not won since last April, finishing fifth in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G3) and fourth in the Sprint in subsequent starts last fall.

Smart Angle’s Fortheluvofbourbon enters the Sprint on a roll, having won five consecutive races including three stakes – the Page McKenney and Banjo Picker Sprint against fellow Pennsylvania-breds and the open Liberty Bell sprinting 6 ½ furlongs Oct. 3, all at his home base of Parx. He will be trying Laurel for the first time since last year’s Maryland Million.

Karan’s Notion has been in good form lately as he heads into his 31st career start. In his last three starts the 5-year-old Great Notion gelding ran second in back-to-back optional claiming allowances, beaten less than two lengths combined, and third behind Alwaysinahurry and Grade 3 winner Wondrwherecraigis in the Sept. 18 race at Pimlico. Bred, owned and trained by Nancy Heil, he posted a front-running 16-1 upset of the 2020 Sprint.

Mopo Racing’s Alwaysinahurry beat Air Token in his most recent race, a six-furlong optional claiming allowance Sept. 18 at historic Pimlico Race Course, coming with a steady late rally to nail Wondrwherecraigis on the wire. A 4 ¾-length winner of the Concern who ran second in the Star de Naskra to Grade 3 winner Jaxon Traveler last summer, both sprinting six furlongs, the 4-year-old Alwaysinahurry finished second behind then-stablemate Kenny Had a Notion in the 2020 Maryland Million Nursery.

“He ran really well last time at Pimlico and won. He was second in the Maryland Million as a 2-year-old, so I expect him to run well,” trainer Dale Capuano said. “He beat a really nice horse last time. He ran him down after he was a couple lengths in front of him, so that was pretty impressive.

“I thought he probably should have won a couple more races this year but he’s had some bad luck in them, although the last one worked out well,” he added. “We’ve been waiting for this race and hopefully he shows up like he did last time. If he does, I think he’ll be OK.”

Also entered are Elusive Agent, Going to the Lead, Goldenize, Heir Port, Hemp, Local Motive, Memory Bouquet, Redeem Eddie and Treasure Tradition.