LAUREL, MD. 10-06-12---Liz Merryman joined her siblings as a winning trainers on Maryland Million day when Ellendale Racing’s Roadhog powered to victory in the $100,000 Jim McKay Maryland Million Turf at Laurel Park.

Merryman joins her brother Edwin and sisters Ann Merryman and Katy Voss who have all been to the winners’ circle at least once on Maryland’s Day at the Races. Edwin won earlier on the card with Jazzy Idea in the Oaks.

“This is a great feeling because I am a Maryland bred,” Merryman said. “This horse is a complete alpha male. He has to go out first every day and he refuses to go back in if he doesn’t get enough grass. He loves to run at other horses so he picks out a couple and says I’m going to stalk this one and that one.”

Roadhog, a Bowman’s Band gelding ridden by Horacio Karamanos, proved to be best in the nine furlong test, winning by 2-3/4 lengths over Change of Command, with Pasta Lover a late closing third. Roadhog paid $5.40 as he completed the distance in 1:47.15 over the firm turf.

“Early he kept wanting to go but I kind of had to keep him back so we had something at the end,” said Karamanos. “We bobbled early just like last time at Parx. There we just got beat. Here I followed Julian outside (on Change of Command) and stayed out and was wide open. He was real good.”