The GP Turf Sprint (Grade 3)- $125.000 Purse
GP- For Four Year Olds and Upward
Five Furlongs on the Turf
February 10, 2024
Two of the top three runners from the BC Turf Sprint last fall have made their way to GP to take part in the 18th running of the GP Turf Sprint. This race began very modestly, for only $65.000, and even ran for just $50.000 for a couple years. While the purse still won’t be considered massive now, it is certainly an improvement from those numbers. 2021 was the first year that this race received a graded designation, and it was won last year by Last City, for Lemax Farms. That six-year-old gelding is still active, but not running in Saturday’s race. Let’s take a look at those who will be!
1- Antimatter (Night Rider Stables, ridden by J L Ortiz)- The last three races for this one have come with the NY-bred condition, and a couple were stakes. The results were hit and miss, but it does show that he would much rather be running on the grass than on the main track. He’ll be making his graded debut here, and as his SRF’s have shown slight improvement, if he’s going to get that chance, this is the time to do it.
2- Training Wheels (Gdp Inc., ridden by J Alvarado)- Two years ago, this one opened some eyes by running second in the BC Turf Sprint. He carried that momentum effectively into 2023 for a while but hit a rough patch over the summer. We can’t throw them out because of off tracks, either, because he has otherwise run pretty well when it’s been wet. Since those races, he’s been better in overnights and returns to stakes action for the first time since August.
3- Bluesman (Spankys Barn, ridden by J Bravo)- When we last saw this now seven-year-old gelding, he just missed becoming a BC champion. Instead, he had to settle for second in a photo to Drinkin Creepin. After three months, it’s time to hit the track again and he will have his regular rider, J Bravo, in the saddle for the race. His speed figures are excellent, so as long as he hasn’t lost any speed since November, he should be expected to get a piece of this.
4- Whoa Bo (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by E Jaramillo)- Just a little bit shy of $500.000 in career earnings and will look to surpass that, and then some, in his first race as a five-year-old. He typically is able to get a piece of the purse, and won his most race, the $100.000 Scherer Memorial Stakes a couple days before Christmas. Hasn’t raced much at the graded level, and when he has, he has not collected a dime. That part may be about to change here.
5- Grandish (Team 7 Illusions, ridden by E J Zayas)- This is not a horse that is used to sprinting, as you have to go back to 2022 to find the last time he was in such a race. He struggled the last time he was out there, managing only a seventh-place performance in an optional claimer but it was also a race where he tried Bute, something he had not been administered beforehand. Possibly, we can throw that out for that reason.
6- Grand Ag (Arkansas Elite, ridden by Jo Ruiz)- Hoping to live up to his name, because we never see autogens doing anything on the track anymore. Just because he is here does not mean he has done that yet, as he is still a lightly raced horse. This is fourth start, winning on debut, but was somewhat flat last month in the $75.000 Fort Bliss, which was his stake debut. Speed figures are nice, and he will run on the grass for the first time.
7- American Generals (Blazin D, ridden by El Gonzalez)- This was a BC runner last fall, but it was in the BC Mile, and that did not go well for him, beating only one of his rivals that day. Prior to that, he ran in the BEL Turf Sprint and finished in the double digits there as well. Since then, he has been backtracked into high level optional claimers and began to look more like a horse that was able to run in the BC. Fresh off a win, this is a good spot for him to bounce back in stakes.
8- Brighter Days Ahead (Luz International, ridden by E J Wilson)- Speaking of the BEL Turf Sprint, we also saw Brighter Days Ahead there, but he could only finish in the middle of the field. Since he was claimed from Fractious, this has been a rather inconsistent horse and when he was here on New Years Eve for the $100.000 Janus he did not excite. But you never know when a horse like this will have one of their brighter days and he could be due for one here.
9- Norski Raider (Mb Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- After winning both the Grade 3 Turf Monster Handicap and the Grade 2 Nearctic, Norski Raider found his way to the BC Turf Sprint and put in a good performance but had to settle for third. He’s never been as good as he is right now with back-to-back triple digit SRF’s. The gelding begins his five-year-old season while hoping not to miss a beat. A couple of bullet works in preparation for this race seems to suggest he’ll be as good as ever.
Prediction: 3-9-4-7
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
