LAUREL, MD - Foxy Junior won her fifth consecutive start on dirt when she turned back in distance in Saturday’s $150,000 Maryland Million Distaff for fillies and mares racing seven furlongs at Laurel Park. The Distaff was one of eight stakes for state-sired performers on the annual Jim McKay Maryland Million Day at the races. Ridden by Jomar Torres, Foxy Junior’s tactical speed was not dulled by those longer-distance races. She broke well enough, settled into an excellent stalking position, made a three-wide bid on the turn to take command, then had enough in the tank to deny a rallying Sheilahs Warcloud by three-quarters of a length. Pace-pressing favorite Spencerian held onto third, a length behind the runner-up. Then came Kissedbyanangel, Bourbon Bon Bay, Mattitude, Mavilus, Malibu Moonshine and Talk to the Judge. Malibu Beauty, I’m Gittin There, Miss Harriett, Brzina, Binnie, Bella Bettina and I Can Do It scratched. Foxy Junior raced the seven furlongs in 1:23.86 and returned $12.40 to win. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. “My theory on seven-eighths is that it’s harder for a sprinter to go seven-eighths than it is for a horse like her,” trainer Bernard Houghton said. “I knew she had a little speed, and we were hoping there was some speed in front of her, and I thought we could sit right off the pace. [Torres] rode her just like we planned. Everything worked out great.” Not only is Foxy Junior unbeaten on dirt in 2024, but she is 5 for 6 since being partnered with Torres. Their only loss together came when fourth in the restricted Princess of Sylmar Stakes over Presque Isle’s Tapeta surface on July 29. “He never says a word, the jockey,” Houghton said. “He’s so quiet. I think that’s what she likes. He just sits there, he puts her in a good position, and she does the running.” Foxy Junior was foaled in Pennsylvania, and is a homebred owned by Dianne Stern. She prepped for the Distaff with a victory in Parx’s Plum Pretty for statebreds on Sept. 21. A 4-year-old filly by Cuba, Foxy Junior has won 8 of 18 starts for lifetime earnings of $272,669. Houghton expects her to return to the races next year. *Maryland Million Ladies It was a day of close shaves for Circle Home, the winner of the Maryland Million Ladies for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Mired on the Also Eligible list, Circle Home needed a scratch to participate. She got it when Italian War Cry withdrew early in the morning. “[They] called me at 6:15 am,” said David Hayden, who bred and owns Circle Home under the Dark Hollow Farm name. It almost didn’t work out for Circle Home in the Ladies as defending champion Precious Avary blasted to the early lead and shook loose through quick fractions of 23.57 and 46.86 seconds over the firm turf course. Precious Avary was still up five after a six-furlong clocking of 1:10.68, but Circle Home was gathering momentum. Relaxed near the back of the pack, she swung widest midway on the second turn, and steadily chipped away at the margin. Precious Avary tried hard, but Circle Home barely got there first by a neck in 1:48.10. Next Episode placed another 4 1/2 lengths behind in third. Then came Juniper Juice, Active, Atlas Strong, Kobe’s Smile and Downtown Katie. Circle Home returned $5.80 as the favorite. “We know she’s got a strong kick and she’s a very honest horse,” trainer Miguel Vera said. “I wasn’t worried about [being so far back]. I knew she could get it done.” Circle Home is a 5-year-old mare by Bodemeister from a loaded family. Third in the open All Along Stakes at Laurel last month, the Ladies was her first stakes victory. “Here’s the backstory on this filly,” Hayden exclaimed. “Her name is Circle Home. Her great-grandmother is Safely Home, who is the dam of [Hall of Famer] Safely Kept. We’ve been breeding this family for over thirty years.” With the victory, jockey Jevian Toledo moved into a tie with Hall of Famer Edgar Prado for most Maryland Million victories (18). “It means a lot,” Toledo says. “Edgar, he’s the teacher. I call him that. He’s a really great guy.” Hayden and Vera mentioned that Circle Home will likely be freshened in preparation for a 2025 campaign. *Lassie Shkhara Fire unleashed a powerful late kick to nip Malibu Hooch by a neck in the $100,000 Maryland Million Lassie for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs. “The trip was perfect because I know this filly breaks a little slow,” winning jockey Angel Cruz said. “Last time, I finished second and I got to know her better. Today, I went inside, tipped out and she just had a lot of run in her.” Trained by Jose Corrales, Shkhara Fire is a hearty filly. The Lassie was her fifth start this year. Cruz was impressed by her professionalism. “Jose Corrales took his time with her. We took her to the gate, we schooled her, she was better today. She broke a step slow, but it didn’t matter. Every time I hit her, she responded, so I knew there was a bit of time for me to get there, and I got there.” Shkhara Fire was last of 12 in the early going as Biscuitwiththeboss and Rapido Rosa battled through splits of 22.01 and 45.63 seconds. Malibu Hooch parked off those horses on the outside, made a three-wide bid to draw clear inside the three-sixteenths, but just couldn’t fend off the winner. Safe Trust was 4 1/4 lengths back in third. Itsamonstamash, favored Onyx Ten, Divine Works, Persian, No Need to Ask, Hiya Love, Rapido Rosa, Biscuitwiththeboss and Eccentric completed the order of finish. Shkhara Fire returned $19.80 as the public’s fifth betting choice. She completed the distance in 1:11.24. A homebred owned by Barak Farm and Dino’s Thoroughbreds, Shkhara Fire is a Friesan Fire half-sister to stakes-placed Buckey’s Charm. As for her future, Cruz is certain that longer distances will suit just Shkhara Fire just fine. “She is going to love going longer.” *** Next Girl ($8.20) settled in midpack under jockey J G Torrealba, split rivals on the second turn, altered course outside into the stretch, then ran down the leaders to win the $50,000 Turf Distaff Starter Handicap for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Trained by Robbie Bailes, Next Girl is a daughter of Divining Rod owned by WWCD LLC. A Maryland-bred 3-year-old filly by Divining Rod, Next Girl was bred by Country Life Farm and Fleet and Fancy LLC, sold for $20,000 as a weanling, and is a half-sister to stakes-placed dirt router Addison Run out of a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winner Midshipman. She has won 4 times from 13 starts for lifetime earnings of $114,530. *** Devil Pays in Gold ($5) bulled her way in between horses in upper stretch under Horacio Karamanos, and drove home to win the $40,000 Distaff Starter Handicap for fillies and mares at seven furlongs.  A 4-year-old filly by Uncle Lino trained by Kieron Magee for Shake and Bake Racing, favored Devil Pays in Gold polished off the distance in 1:26 26 seconds while a neck better than Isabella’s Glory. Concrete Faze finished third but was disqualified and placed eighth. That resulted in fourth-place finisher Determined Blue moving up to third.   Bred by Two Legends Farm, Devil Pays in Gold has won 7 of 23 starts for lifetime earnings of $245,328. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.