Maryland Massive in William Wellwood Memorial

MILTON, August 24, 2024 – Marcus Melander trainee Maryland motored out of post 9 and secured a snug trip to a big payday with a 1:53.4 blowout victory in the $575,000 William Wellwood Memorial on Saturday night (Aug. 24) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Maryland darted for the lead and landed onto the cones heading for a :28.1 first quarter, but obliged to sit a pocket ride when Emoticon Legacy came calling out of fourth for the front. Emoticon Legacy took over before a :57.2 half and stayed steady through the final turn as no serious challengers came charging.

Nordic Catcher S, the even-money favourite, angled first over out of third, but advanced methodically on the rim to inch within a length of the lead coming to three-quarters in 1:26.1. Emoticon Legacy maintained a tenuous lead off the turn and only trotted evenly while Nordic Catcher S continued to progress and Maryland swung to a seam at the inside for room. Maryland overcame tight quarters entering the final eighth and, once having open racetrack ahead, lifted flight. In a matter of strides Maryland opened two, then three lengths on an ever-widening lead capped to 4-3/4 lengths crossing the finish. Nordic Catcher S held second while 130-1 shot Southwind Caspian saved ground throughout to grab third and Emoticon Legacy faded to fourth.

“He was really good last week in his elimination, he just struggled in the last turn,” Dexter Dunn said after the race. “Marcus [Melander] made some gear changes and he was so much better tonight. He felt great behind the gate before we left; he was straight and trotting good. We had the outside, so I thought we’d give it a shot. He actually got across pretty good and got a good helmet with Louis [Roy and Emoticon Legacy]. He won that pretty easily. He stretched out really good down the straight.”

A colt by Chapter Seven, Maryland competes for owners Courant Inc., PCW Racing LLC, Holly Lane Stud East Ltd and S. Stewart R. Thorn Stable. He won his second race from five starts and has now earned $311,743.

“Training down, he’s been a smart colt from day one,” Marcus Melander said. “In his first start we thought he was a good horse. He raced great last week [but] he had a little trouble in the turns. He wasn’t straight enough, so Dexter couldn’t keep up with those up front. I knew he was sharp going into the final. I just had to make him go straight.

“I wanted to try and keep him off the half-mile tracks because he’s running in a little bit in the turns,” Melander also said. “That’s why we’ve been keeping him on the big tracks here and we’ll probably continue to do that, too.”

Off the fourth choice in the betting, Maryland paid $36.50 to win.

Ray Cotolo for Woodbine Communications