The Fleet Sprint Handicap – (Grade lll)

Purse $500.00 – For Four Year Olds And Upward

6 Furlongs – Dirt

Oaklawn Park – April 11, 2026

After returning to the main track in his last start at Tampa Bay Downs, Chilled Niagra now made it two in a row on the dirt with his victory in the 21st running of the Grade Three Fleet Sprint Handicap. He opened 2026 with two wins on the turf, so his current win streak extends to four for the son of Stress Free. Maxmillion Farm secures his second victory in this race, while jockey Rafael Hernandez earns his first. Chilled Niagra’s purse earnings now increase to $872.96, as he ran the six furlongs in 1:08.53. This is his ninth win since being claimed for $25.00 back in June of 2024! No doubt he’s appeared to have found a new home on the dirt and now looms as a major threat in sprint stakes heading into the summer. Well done to the connections:

Winner: Chilled Niagra – (Maxmillion Farm, R M. Hernandez) It was a different trip for the favorite as jockey Rafael Hernandez took him back a little more off the pace than usual. At the ⅜ pole, this six-year-old found himself all alone in last and waited to make his move until the top of the stretch. He had so much momentum and was closing like a freight train down the lane. The others really didn’t even see Chilled Niagra coming until inside the final 1/16, but there was no way they were going to hold him off. This was really an impressive performance, and Maxmillion Farm has a good one on his hands. Watch out for his guy moving forward.

Second Place: Daddys A Baller – (Luz International, R. Santana Jr.) This gelding didn’t have much speed from the gate and settled outside Chilled Niagra down the backside. In the blink of an eye, he split horses and was in third rounding the far turn. Daddys A Baller set his sights on the leaders heading into the stretch but failed to close faster than the eventual winner. He hasn’t been in the winner’s circle since last year, so it’s going to take the right field to get his picture taken in the future. However, the son of Diamond Daddy has now hit the board in back-to-back graded stakes and is putting up some good speed figures.

Third Place: Tube – (Spankys Barn, T. Gaffalione) Breaking from the gate, Tube was very quick and established the lead early. Mamba decided to set the pace too down on the inside, and these two were head and head down the backstretch. The early fractions were 21.98 and 44.57 as they rounded the far turn. Entering the stretch, Tube was a half-length in front and kicked away to lead by almost a full length. That was short-lived as the field started to close fast from behind. He fought on gamely and dug in to save third place. Moving forward, Spankys Barn is going to need to have some racing luck to get this guy back in winning form.

Fourth Place: Only Way Is Up – (The Sidley Stud, R. Bejarano) There was a change in tactics this outing, as the Florida-bred settled in the second flight of horses. He was in fifth rounding the turn, deciding whether to launch his bid down on the rail or on the outside. Jockey Rafael Bejarano decided to take Only Way Is Up on the outside, where he was four wide coming into the stretch. Chilled Niagra and Daddys A Baller got the jump down on the inside, and he wasn’t able to close fast enough to hit the board. It was definitely not a bad effort, as the trip wasn’t ideal. I wouldn’t be surprised if this gelding wins a stake later this summer.

– AJM

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES