Forest Fire tallies first stakes win in Maryland Million Classic

Shirley A Lojeski's Forest Fire became a newly-minted stakes winner with a half-length victory in the Maryland Million Classic at Laurel Park on Saturday.

With Paco Lopez in the irons, Forest Fire pressed pacesetter Pendimi on the outside through moderate fractions of :24.49, 49.25 and 1:13.40 for six furlongs. Forest Fires surged past the Pendimi at the top of the stretch and held him at bay to the wire to win by a half-length. Tappin Cat checked in third.

Trained by John Servis, Forest Fire completed 1 1/8-miles in 1:50.42 and paid $8.80.

“John told me, ‘Paco, put the horse right there," Lopez said. "You have a very good post so if somebody wants to go crazy, let them go and you can sit second or third.’ I just wanted to see how the race played out. I had great position and the pace was good, and turning for home he was just going easy and was able to hold off that horse.”

Forest Fire is a 4-year-old Pennsylvania-bred son of Maryland stallion Friesan Fire. He won restricted optional-claiming events at Parx in his previous two starts. The victory in the Maryland Million Classic improves his record to 13: 7-1-0.