Witty, Sky’s Not Falling meet again in $100,000 Turf Sprint

Witty and Sky’s Not Falling, separated by a head in last month’s Ben’s Cat, figure to be the main players once again in an overflow field of 16 entered for Saturday’s $100,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint.

Bred, owned and trained by Elizabeth Merryman, whose previous Maryland Million success came as the trainer of 2012 and 2013 Turf winner Roadhog, Witty is already a stakes winner on both dirt and turf. Merryman’s late father, John, was one of the founders of Maryland Million.

“I won a couple of Maryland Millions as a trainer but never as an owner or breeder,” Merryman said. “My father was so instrumental in developing the Maryland Million concept and such a fan of Maryland breeding and supporter of it, so it would be huge to win a Maryland Million race with a homebred. I know that however he runs – win, lose or draw – he’ll try his hardest. He always does.”

Moved to the turf full-time this summer by previous trainer McLane Hendriks, Merryman’s son, Witty ran second in three consecutive stakes beaten a total of 2 ½ lengths. Plagued by a series of poor starts, Witty broke sharply in the five-furlong Ben’s Cat Sept. 16 and had to overcome trouble both early and late to edge Sky’s Not Falling.

“It was a super effort because he didn’t have the best of trips, so he had to overcome that a bit, but so did the other horse. They were kind of on even terms in that regard,” Merryman said. “I think he really enjoys the grass, and I think it’s a little easier on him than the dirt. He has an easier time getting away from the gate. He’s doing really well, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed.”

Larry Johnson and RDM Racing Stable’s Sky’s Not Falling won last year’s Turf Sprint by a half-length in just his second start of the year. The 5-year-old gelding was second by 1 ½ lengths in 2021 and has not won since a one-mile optional claimer May 6 at Laurel. He was third behind Grade 3 winner Eons and multiple group-stakes winner Pao Alto in the 1 1/8-mile Prince George’s County July 15 at Laurel.

Grateful Bred is winless with four seconds in 11 starts since beating Sky’s Not Falling in the 2021 Turf Sprint, a race where the 7-year-old gelding finished fourth last year. Now 7, he dueled for the lead in the 5 ½-furlong Meadow Stable Sept. 2 at Colonial Downs before fading to seventh, beaten 3 ½ lengths.

Cynergy’s Star, Next Episode and Whenigettoheaven, respectively second, fourth and fifth in the Meadow Stable; Prince Pere, R B’s the Boss and Commanding General, 5-6-7 in the Ben’s Cat; Bandits Heart, a half to 2019 Distaff winner Anna’s Bandit that won the Dover on dirt at Delaware Park last fall in his second start; Tidewater, Odinson, Tenax, Calming Storm and Maryland-bred also-eligibles Monster Mason and Backnthewoods complete the field.

(Maryland Jockey Club press release. If there are any questions, please contact the organization that provided the release.)