KD Juvenile Sprint

Purse $750.00 – For Two Year Olds – 6 1/2 Furlongs – Turf

Kentucky Downs – August 29, 2026

First time running on the turf was no problem for Grass Crown as he captured the 6th running of the KD Juvenile Sprint in style! This son of Excoriator was definitely difficult to assess coming into this race with no published turf works on his tab. Perhaps the grass was always calling his name—literally. He was also one of the few entered this year who brought more than one win to this stakes. Grass Crown banked another sizable purse, bringing his career earnings to $593.30 from only four starts. Jerry Garcia Racing can now add this race to his long list of accomplishments, earning his first victory in the event since its inception in 2021. The final time for the 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:14.55 and ended up being .13 seconds faster than last year’s edition. Connections will have an interesting decision to make with Grass Crown moving forward. They could keep him sprinting and point toward the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint, or test him around two turns with the BC Juvenile Turf in mind. His conformation does suggest that added distance could be right up his alley, making a stretch-out an intriguing option for his next start. Congratulations on Jerry Garcia Racing!

Winner: Grass Crown – (Jerry Garcia Racing, K. Carmouche) This Kentucky-bred broke in good order and settled two-wide in third rounding the long far turn. With only one rival setting the pace in front of him, jockey Kendrick Carmouche took advantage of the lack of early speed and gradually allowed Grass Crown to move closer to the lead. He really started to make his move passing the quarter pole with only one length to make up to become the leader. This gelding didn’t get to the front until the final furlong as rivals were starting to close on the outside. The wire came at the perfect time and Grass Crown was able to hold on by a half-length. It has to be especially rewarding for Jerry Garcia Racing to find this level of success with a homebred.

Second Place: Storm Lugo – (Mb Stables, J C. Ferrer) It’s interesting that the top three finishers in his race were making their turf debut. Storm Lugo was one of those entrants and was making his first start for new connections. He put together some fast turf workouts before this stakes as well. The son of Storming broke sharply from the gate, settling in second heading into the turn. He had a clear running lane while being three-wide with only one length to make up. Things started to get interesting as the field reached the top of the stretch because this gelding and Grass Crown were making their moves together with other rivals closing behind. Unfortunately, Storm Lugo was outclosed inside the final furlong and saved second.

Third Place: By The Waterline – (Acber Farms, S. Elliott) There was a dead heat for third place between By The Waterline & The Edge. This son of Take The South Fork was making his first start against winners and made a really good impression. He broke slow from the gate, finding his way down on the rail in tenth by six lengths. Jockey Stewart Elliott was hoping for a fast pace at this point getting his horse into a comfortable rhythm. By The Waterline started making his move passing the ⅜ pole with a ton of ground to make up. This colt found his way into traffic trouble down the stretch and didn’t find a clear lane to run until the 1/16 pole. He closed nicely, but only managed to get into third. Unlucky trip.

Third Place: The Edge – (Hammelot Farm, E T. Baird) There was a dead heat for third place between By The Waterline & The Edge. Connections also made a late jockey change from Frank Alvarado to E. T. Baird. This California-bred was coming off a very impressive three-length victory at Del Mar sprinting on the grass. Although The Edge was drawn in the twelve post, jockey E. T. Baird wasted no time and went straight to the early lead. He set fractions of 22.60 & 45.52. The son of Offal Edge unfortunately started to fade when the field reached the ⅛ pole, with rivals closing on the outside. He still fought on gallantly down the stretch and was able to hold on for third place. Not a bad effort by any means.

– AJM

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded