Orb, a thoroughbred with Maryland ties, won the Kentucky Derby Saturday, setting up a potential homecoming story later this month at the Preakness.
Ridden by Joel Rosario, Orb began well back in the 20-horse field, before closing very strong in the home stretch.
"I was really far back,"Rosario told NBC. "I said hopefully he can go faster than that. I was saying maybe I was too far back, but it was so easy."
See video of the race on NBCSports.com.
The horse is owned by northern Baltimore County resident Stuart S. Janney, an executive with a New York-based financial firm, according to The Sun.
Orb's father, Malibu Moon, is owned by Bel Air's Pons family of Country Life Farm, The Sun reported last month.
The winning time was 2:02.89, as Orb—starting from the 16th post position—finished ahead of Golden Soul, Revolutionary and Normandy Invasion, which led early but crossed the line fourth.
It was the first Derby win for Rosario.
The Preakness is scheduled for May 18 at Pimlico.
Visit North Baltimore Patch for upcoming Preakness coverage.