The GP Sprint Championship ($125.000 Purse)
GP- For Four Year Olds and Upward
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
February 22, 2025

While the name of the race would suggest that this was a graded stake for a large purse, the GP Sprint Championship is an ungraded stake with a purse of “only” $125.000. There was a time when it did carry more prestige, running as a Grade 2 back in 2004, but eventually it was downgraded to a Grade 3 before becoming ungraded in 2023. The last two races have been won by horses that could be considered, even if not the intention of the naming party, to be named after professional athletes. Binnington in 2023, and Judge in 2024, but we have no one in this field who can keep that trend going in 2025. Judge is by Bronx Bomber, after all. He won this race for Nakamura Stables and still runs for that trainer. There are nine in this field, including one very surprising name, given it is a sprint. Here is the field!

1- Storm Water (Asgar, ridden by E Jaramillo)- It’s not his stake debut, as after all there was an attempt in early 2023, but Storm Water gets the biggest challenge of his career thus far. It is well deserved, with wins in three of his last five races, coming on both the dirt and the turf. Won an optional claimer on the dirt at FG leading into this with an impressive race winning time, and a similar effort should mean he is a factor here.

2- Frenchman (Threshold, ridden by E T Baird)- In 2023, he was chasing the KYD, running in both the Risen Star and the AR Derby, but disappointed in each. Settled into being an inconsistent horse in overnights, and has exchanged hands in claimers a couple times, for $50.000 and $28.000, respectively. With Threshold, he has won one of three, though has not run at the highest of levels and also hasn’t sprinted much. Works well but needs to prove himself, too.

3- Crimson Smoke (Blazin D, ridden by E J Zayas)- Takes a three race winning streak into this race, with two of the wins coming at PRX, before heading here a couple days before the new year and winning open allowance. He’s won half of his fourteen career starts, but none of them have been for a purse like this. Very experienced sprinter, and the time is now to make his stake debut.

4- Gorogue Laga (Spankys Barn, ridden by J Bravo)- A name that anyone reading this will know, but that is not because of his sprinting prowess. It’s actually been a while since Gorogue Laga has been to the winner’s circle, with that last victory almost a year to this exact date, coming here in an open allowance. In fact, that race he won was run on the same day as the 2024 GP Sprint Championship. This is his first race with Spankys Barn, and maybe those other similarities can get him that elusive ninth win.

5- Louisiana Asset (Big Jd Racing, ridden by M J Husbands)- This gelding by Asset Class will be making his 35th start and is looking for his tenth win. He’s been on great form since the summer as well, winning three of four, which is highlighted by the Grade 3 Forty Niner Handicap. That might not have been a sprint, but he has plenty of experience at these distances, and has been successful at it.

6- Elvis Lives Party (Mb Stables, ridden by J Alvarado)- Most of his twelve starts have come on the grass, but so far this year, Mb Stables has been running him on the dirt. He’s a perfect 2-for-2 in 2025, with both of this wins coming in optional claimers at HOU. Been brought along patiently by Mb Stables, and now will appear in a stake for the first time since the fall of 2023. May be a slow developer, too, based on the incremental SRF improvements, so will be interesting to see where this year continues to take him.

7- Ultra MAGA (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by L Salles)- Winning has not come easily for him, doing so only once in 23 starts. In fact, the trainer got so tired of Ultra MAGA losing maidens that he entered him in an allowance and he ended winning that. He’s been competitive since then in overnights but his few stake appearances are not career highlights. Lifetime record of 7-0-1-0 as a sprinter.

8- Super Powers (La Canada Racehorses, ridden by Jo Ruiz)- Chased the KYD last year a little bit, but never made an impact. Eventually, Super Powers would be sold by former trainer Fractious for $40.010 in the September auction and he has since made four starts for La Canada Racehorses. The first three results were okay, but not going intimidate any of his rivals here. Picked up his third career win last month at TP in an optional claimer. Each of his prior wins were in overnights as well, which inspired a stake start right after. Didn’t step up before, but maybe he can now.

9- Wonder Run (Parkers Pride, ridden by Hector Barrios)- The eight year old will make his 41st career start here, and he’s kicked off the year well. Last month, he came from well off the pace to win an open allowance here, but that came at a mile, so he will have to begin his wonder run a little earlier to duplicate that. Has periodic stake experience during his long career, and does boast an ungraded win from 2022. Generally is a consistent and reliable runner.

Prediction: 5-6-1-4

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded