Taqarub was all class as he tallied his first graded stakes win in the $100,000 Maryland Sprint H. (G3) as part of the 2010 Preakness (G1) undercard. The 4-year-old bay colt won the 2009 listed Jimmy Winkfield S. at Aqueduct. He prepped for the Pimlico race with a sharp score in a very tough allowance at Keeneland last month.

The six-furlong Maryland Sprint featured a very competitive field of 10 older sprinters. Taqarub was the fastest of the fast out of the gate, with a half-length lead after two furlongs. He carved out a half-mile in :45 2/5 seconds while leading by a length. Despite constant pressure, he managed to widen a bit in the stretch, ultimately winning by a length in 1:10, just a second off the track record.

Taqarub is a Darby Dan success story, bred, born, raised, and sold by the farm. The 4-year-old colt is by Aldebaran out of Honor Bestowed. The mare is a half-sister to champion grass mare Soaring Softly. Taqarub sold at the 2007 Saratoga Select Yearling Sale for $300,000 to Shadwell Stable, his current owner. He is now 5-1-0 in nine starts, with earnings of $232,437.