Just four FL-bred two-year-olds went to the post in the Juvenile Sprint at CRC on Saturday. Odds-on favorite, Zigmunderful, had already won $338.400, thanks in large part to a win in the $300.000 FL Stallion Stakes,and he had only finished off the board once in six starts. Second choice, Doing Hard Time, had just one win to his credit, and that came in a maiden special weight at PEN in his second start. There was no reason to think the grandson of Pink Panther would pick this day and this race to show his stuff, no reason anyone knew of except maybe his owner, John Henry who brought him in off of back-to-back seventh place finishes.

But then the gate opened, and favorite Zigmunderful took the lead almost immediately. In all of his other six starts, he had spent most of the trip well off the lead. The gray, Doing Hard Time, held position second on the rail with Stray Cat Strut third on the outside and longshot Iron Broomstick trailing the field. The pace was moderate for a six furlong sprint.

The half went in 45.84.  Zigmunderful still held a 1/2 length lead over Doing Hard Time on the rail and Stray Cat Strut on the outside. Iron Broomstick was done.

Zigmunderful led the charge into the stretch, but with a furlong to run, the three leaders were spread across the track stride for stride.  Doing Hard Time and Stray Cat Strut passed Zigmunderful in tandem, but it was Doing Hard Time who pulled away to win by  1/4 length.

It was the second win for Doing Hard Time and brings his earnings to $60.000.

Congratulations John Henry!

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded