The MD Sprint Stakes (Grade 3)- $150.000 Purse
PIM- For Three Year Olds and Upward
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
May 15, 2021
Part of the big day at PIM on Saturday will be the 16th running of the MD Sprint Stakes, which is a Grade 3 on the main track with a six furlong distance. We will get a field of eight going to post, and there is good variety in the general resumes that the horses have, so that can make it very interesting to watch. The purse for this stake was $200.000 initially, but has been $150.000 for the vast majority of its life. Last year would be the first time that a three year old won this race, as Vanderbiltt won in a dead heat for La Canada Racehorses. While he did finish fourth in the BC Sprint later in the year, he has not won since. On the other side of that dead heat was the more experienced Snakie Authorization, for John Henry. He was recently retired and now serves as a stud for Patterson Stables. Let’s meet our runners on Saturday.
#1- Jinxed Authority (Smokey Stover, ridden by V R Carrasco)- This is one of two three year olds in the field, and the only one where you could say was on a KYD path at any point. As a two year old, he did run in the BC Juvenile, but you might not have noticed him. The story was similar in the SUN Derby, where he was well back. Sprinting is where he has been happiest, with four wins in eight career sprints. Exclude the seven furlong races, and that is now four out of six. Has not raced in a graded stake, as a sprint, since winning the Grade 2 SAR Special last August. It’s good to see him running in one again.
#2- Cp Fascinating Moon (Luz International, ridden by T McCarthy)- Since being picked up last December for $50.000 in the auction, this gelding has made three starts, and has been good in all of them. He was best, however, in his last start, coming at KEE with a win in the Grade 3 Commonwealth while covering seven furlongs. That earned him a 100 SRF. Hasn’t had a many chances to compete at this level, but if he follows that race up well in this one, then that will certainly change.
#3- Roots Of Hollywood (Scarletandgraystable, ridden by A Cedillo)- You’ll likely have to look behind his career stats on this one. In 16 starts, Roots Of Hollywood has won four times, which by itself is fine, but only has $30.100 in career earnings. Early in his career he was racing either free or fair, and that made those earnings be what they are. More recently, this six year old has been racing at higher levels, in overnights, and running well. This is a step up from that, but sometimes you have to take a shot.
#4- Angelsinheaven (Angelos Stable, ridden by H A Karamanos)- It is so rare now to see autogens in races like this, but Angelsinheaven has proven that you can still get a good one once in a while with that method. You may remember him from last year. That’s right, he’s the same horse that finished second in the PRK last year. Later on in the year, he was seventh in the BC Sprint, but until now has not raced in a stake during 2021. Was last seen at TUP, winning an open allowance, so you have to wonder at least somewhat, why the trainer lost confidence in him, and if he is ready to bounce back to high level form here.
#5- Code Red Party (Martyparty, ridden by E Jaramillo)- This is the second three year old in the race, and he has become very good at what he does. Never put on the KYD trail, Code Red Party has been able to be first or second in six of his eight starts. You could even make a point that with a little more luck at the wire, he could be a perfect 8-for-8. Only one graded race in his past though, coming back in January when he won the Grade 3 Swale. Don’t know why he never built on that in terms of class, being dropped into optional claimers afterward. Is that a red flag party for Code Red Party?
#6- Gothic Heart (SamIam, ridden by Jo Ruiz)- The four year old has been a regular at the graded level, and has appeared in both the BC Sprint and the Grade 1 Malibu within his last four starts. He had double digit finishes in each, but at least he was taking on the best. Has not won since late September, when he captured the SA Sprint Championship, beating Vanderbiltt that day. If he can find his form from early 2020, it would be great for the trainer. Perhaps he can build off the Grade 3 Kona Stakes in his last outing, where was third.
#7- Smugglers Blues (John Henry, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- While not as experienced as the one next to him, this five year old gelding has been through a lot over his 27-race career. In that time, he has been seen in races like the Travers, but recently has moved to sprinting. The early returns are in and they have been successful, with victories number four and five coming in his last two starts. When he has gone under a mile, he has been very effective, and probably should be doing so more often.
#8- The Crucible (Night Rider Stables, ridden by An Cruz)- This will be the 44th career start for this seven year old gelding, but it is also his graded debut. Over that time, he has run ungraded every now and then, and finally won such a race in his last start, the $100.000 Affirmed Success, for NY-breds, at BEL. So now, after going to the starting gate 43 times, in the past, The Crucible is making another big step forward. The old man of the group should be sentimental favorite, if nothing else.
Prediction: 2-7-1-8
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
