Its been a tough go this past year for this grey four year old homebred out of D J C Racing Stables, but the wait has been worth it. Coming off an OpClm40 victory back in March after the addition of Bute three starts ago, this will be this thoroughbreds first ever Graded title, and third stakes victory.

• MD Sprint Stakes- Grade III Purse $150.000
• Pimlico Racetrack – For Three year olds and Upward
• Six Furlongs Main track
• May 18th, 2019

For trainer D J C Racing Stables, this would be Dom’s only stakes victory of the Preakness weekend with his horse Not To Be Denied out of the money in the Preakness. This would be his sixty ninth Grade III title in now his ninth season at HRP.

Rider Bejarano was keen to get him into the mix quite early for this event, unlike how he would ride him in the Gr. III Amsterdam last season with a come from behind effort. Comfortable with allowing Cheapsnake ( John Henry ) the frontend with an opening fraction of 23.06, Bejarano would keep Caydens Camel tight to the rail, a position he gained from the scratch of Rioja Action from the one hole. He would have company to his outside at this point in the race with Caviar ( Night Rider Stables ), and Candlestick ( Mb Stables ) sitting just to that ones outside.

All through the turn, Caydens Camel would progress along the rail till he would take the lead away from Cheapsnake at the top of the lane. The half mile was posted in 45.83. A battle was also brewing behind these two as Candlestick would stick a nose in front of Caviar. Behind this grouping would be Harleys Hope ( TwinTowersRacing ) just three back, with Socraties ( T Boy Racing ) down to the rail, and Not A Pretty One ( Estero Farms ) going widest off the turn.

With an eighth of a mile to run, an Caydens Camel was in control now of this event, Cheapsnake looked like he was running out of energy at this point, as Caviar would cling to the rail. Socraties was finding himself some late kick, and a hole opening up between those two runners. Candlestick was still fighting gamely in the center of the track.

Stopping the clock at the wire in 1:08.88, It was a bitter sweet victory for Caydens Camel. A late charging Socraties would get up in time for the place money, edging out Caviar in the final seventy yards. Harleys Hope would find enough to get the final share of the purse money. Completing the field in order of finish would be Not A Pretty One, Candlestick and finally early front runner Cheapsnake.

Duffer

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES