FLATTER’s Maryland Brando showed that he’s a juvenile to watch at Delaware Park on Wednesday when he romped home by 11 ½ lengths.
Making his debut over five furlongs on the dirt, Maryland Brando shadowed the leader under Carol Cedeno. Keeping the pressure on the leader down the backstretch, Maryland Brando stepped up his game around the turn to easily take over the lead.
Cedeno asked him for a little more down the stretch and Maryland Brando responded, pulling away with ears pricked.
A $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale purchase by his racing owner Bell Gable Stable from Northview Stallion Station last year, the FLATTER colt is trained by Gary Contessa.
Out of the More Than Ready mare Apple Cider, Maryland Brando is bred on the same cross as FLATTER’s stakes winners Baby Nina and Silver Tongued among eight winners from 13 runners.
Apple Cider is a half-sister to stakes winners Giant Run, American Victory, and Grade 3-placed Who’s Cozy with three of her half-sisters producing stakes performers.
FLATTER is already having an outstanding year as the sire of this year’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) second Search Results. Maryland Brando also got his juvenile crop’s success off on the right foot as the first 2-year-old to race for FLATTER in 2021.