by Mike Curry

Cuba drove clear to a four-length romp in the $279,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Classic Stakes, the feature race of the 23rd annual Maryland Million card on Saturday at Laurel Park.

The 2008 Maryland Million program, with purses of more than $1.6-million, was comprised of 12 races for horses sired by Maryland-based stallions.

Trainer Bobby Dibona claimed Cuba for $18,000 on February 6 at Gulfstream Park on behalf of Leo-Sag Stable, and the seven-year-old Not For Love horse has won six of ten starts since then. He entered the Maryland Million Classic off a third-place finish in the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap on September 20 at Suffolk Downs.

Cuba stalked the pace from third in the 1 3/16-mile Maryland Million Classic, rallied on the far turn, and seized command leaving the quarter pole. Cuba accelerated to a commanding lead in early stretch and cruised to a victory in 1:57.78 on a track rated as fast.

“He has never run a bad race since I claimed him,” said Dibona. “It is tough not to have confidence. When this race came up on the light side I thought we had to take a shot. He has run well on short rest so it worked out beautiful. He is the coolest horse. He is great to be around. He does everything push button like a champ. Don’t you think he didn’t know for one minute what was going on [Saturday]?”

Cuba improved to 12 wins in 39 starts and boosted his earnings to $658,594.

Broadway Producer split foes leaving the turn as the 11-to-10 favorite and held off runner-up Dr Rico by a neck to win the $190,000 Maryland Million Turf Stakes. The five-year-old Not For Love horse completed 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:49.99.

Celtic Innis dueled for the lead under Craig Gibbs and shook free on the turn en route to a 2 1/2-length win in the $135,000 Maryland Million Sprint Handicap. The six-year-old Yarrow Brae gelding completed six furlongs in 1:10.81.

Spectacular Malibu stalked the pace under Julien Pimentel, powered to the lead inside the final furlong, and drove clear to a 2 1/2-length win in the $142,500 Maryland Million Distaff Handicap. The four-year-old Malibu Moon filly finished seven furlongs in 1:23.56.

Sweet Goodbye set the pace as the 11-to-10 favorite and decisively defeated eight challengers to post a three-length victory in the $142,500 Maryland Million Oaks. The three-year-old Louis Quatorze filly completed one mile in 1:38.47.

Miss Charm City set an uncontested pace in the $142,500 Maryland Million Lassie Stakes and prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths. The two-year-old Bowman’s Band filly covered seven furlongs in 1:24.81.

Juke Joint seized command on the turn and drove clear to a 4 1/4-length win as the 11-to-10 favorite in the $142,500 Maryland Million Nursery Stakes. The two-year-old Jazz Club colt finished seven furlongs in 1:26.22.

Miss Lombardi rallied from 11th in a 12-horse field to post a three-quarter-length score in the $190,000 Maryland Million Ladies Stakes. The six-year-old Unbridled Jet mare completed the 1 1/8-mile turf race in 1:49.52.

Kosmo’s Buddy stalked pacesetter Natural Seven and collared that foe in the final strides to win the $95,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint Handicap by a nose. The three-year-old Outflanker filly completed the 5 1/2-furlong turf race in 1:02.84.

For Equibase charts, click here.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor