Miracle Wood Stakes
The Miracle Wood Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held in February at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. The Miracle Wood is open to three-year-olds and is run at seven furlongs on the dirt.
| Ungraded Stakes race | |
| Location | Laurel Park Racecourse, Laurel, Maryland,  United States  |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1995 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 7 furlongs |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-years-old, open |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | US$100,000 |
An ungraded stakes, it currently offers a purse of $100,000.[1] The Miracle Wood is also one of Maryland's triple crown prep races. The winner of the race typically moves on to compete in the Private Terms Stakes held in March at Laurel Park Racecourse as well, but winners have also ventured to New York and Kentucky for their next races.[2]
The race was named in honor of Miracle Wood, a champion Maryland bred colt that won many races and accolades. In 2008,the race was shortened from one mile to the current distance of seven furlongs. During the first eleven years of the race (1993–2003), it was run at a distance of 1 1⁄16 miles (8.5 furlongs).
In 2006, Sweetnorthernsaint set a record winning margin of ten lengths. He went on to win the Illinois Derby that year and was the post time favorite in the 132nd Kentucky Derby. A local horse based at Laurel Park Racecourse, Sweetnorthernsaint became a millionaire and placed second in the state's biggest race, the Preakness Stakes.
Records
Speed record:
- 7 furlongs – 1:23.22 – The Lumber Guy (2012)
- 1 mile – 1:36.75 – Extrasexyhippzster (2014)
- 1 1⁄16 miles – 1:43.00 – Gimmeawink (2003)
Most wins by an owner:
- no owner has the Miracle Wood Stakes more than once
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 – Mario Pino (1997, 2002, 2006 & 2007)
- 3 – Julian Pimentel (2008, 2012 & 2014)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 – Michael Trombetta (2006, 2007 & 2014)
Winners of the Miracle Wood Stakes since 1995
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Distance | Time | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Lebda | 3 | Alex Cintron | Claudio Gonzalez | Euro Stable | 1 mile | 1:38.38 | $100,000 |
| 2019 | Alwaysmining | 3 | Daniel Centeno | Kelly Rubley | Runnymede Racing LLC | 1 mile | 1:35.27 | $100,000 |
| 2018 | Still Having Fun | 3 | Feargal Lynch | Timothy Keefe | Gary Barber | 1 mile | 1:37.51 | $100,000 |
| 2017 | O Dionysus | 3 | Jevion Toledo | Gary Capuano | Marathon Farms, Inc. | 1 mile | 1:37.06 | $100,000 |
| 2016 | Marengo Road | 3 | Julian Pimentel | Michael Trombetta | Harry Meyerhoff | 1 mile | 1:40.00 | $75,000 |
| 2015 | Savvy Street | 3 | Forest Boyce | Donald H. Barr | Barbara J. Houck | 1 mile | 1:40.36 | $100,000 |
| 2014 | Extrasexyhippzster | 3 | Julian Pimentel | Michael Trombetta | Kirwan Equine Group | 1 mile | 1:36.75 | $100,000 |
| 2013 | Dynamic Strike | 3 | Forrest Boyce | Richard Small | Fitzhugh LLC | 7 fur. | 1:40.58 | $125,000 |
| 2012 | The Lumber Guy | 3 | Julian Pimentel | Michael Hushion | Barry K. Schwartz | 7 fur. | 1:23.22 | $100,000 |
| 2011 | J J's Lucky Train | 3 | José C. Ferrer | William D. Anderson | Fresh Start Stable | 7 fur. | 1:23.60 | $75,000 |
| 2010 | Don't Blame the Cat | 3 | Erick Rodriguez | Richard Dutrow Jr. | Mary Raymond | 7 fur. | 1:23.62 | $70,000 |
| 2009 | Rock On Justin | 3 | Tony Maragh | Gary Capuano | Non Stop Stable's | 7 fur. | 1:24.58 | $75,000 |
| 2008 | Gattopardo | 3 | Julian Pimentel | Timothy Tullock Jr. | Germania Farm | 7 fur. | 1:24.16 | $90,000 |
| 2007 | Crafty Bear | 3 | Mario Pino | Michael Trombetta | Harry Meyerhoff | 1 mile | 1:38.55 | $75,000 |
| 2006 | Sweetnorthernsaint | 3 | Mario Pino | Michael Trombetta | Joe Balsamo/Ted Theos | 1 mile | 1:38.69 | $75,000 |
| 2005 | Malibu Moonshine | 3 | Steve Hamilton | King T. Leatherbury | Woodrow Marriott | 1 mile | 1:40.25 | $75,000 |
| 2004 | Water Cannon | 3 | Ramon Domínguez | Linda Albert | Nonsequitur Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:38.99 | $65,000 |
| 2003 | Gimmeawink | 3 | Jeremy Rose | Timothy F. Ritchey | Walter Weinkowitz | 1-1/16 | 1:43.07 | $60,000 |
| 2002 | Saratoga Blues | 3 | Mario Pino | Anthony W. Dutrow | Alvin Akman | 1-1/16 | 1:45.80 | $60,000 |
| 2001 | Talk is Money | 3 | Edgar Prado | John Scanlon | Daniel Borislow | 1-1/16 | 1:45.96 | $67,000 |
| 2000 | Connect | 3 | Ryan Fogelsonger | Leslie Saunders | John R. Rastetter | 1-1/16 | 1:51.40 | $45,000 |
| 1999 | Ewer All Wet | 3 | Edgar Prado | Rodney Jenkins | Kathryn Clark | 1-1/16 | 1:44.80 | $45,000 |
| 1998 | Mister Business | 3 | Joe Rocco | Richard E. Dutrow | Swan and Cygnet Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:45.20 | $45,000 |
| 1997 | South West Hostage | 3 | Mario Pino | Ferris Allen | Wombat Racing Stable | 5.5 fur. | 1:05.60 | $30,000 |
| 1996 | Game Quoit | 3 | Mark Johnston | Donald H. Barr | Donald H. Barr | 5.5 fur. | 1:03.20 | $30,000 |
| 1995 | South Bend | 3 | Albert Delgado | Barbara M. Kees | Barbara M. Kees | 7 fur | 1:25.20 | $30,000 |
References
- Purse amount listed on Laurel Park website Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
- 2007 Maryland Jockey Club Media Guide, page 88 on March 3, 2007.