Aristides BC (Grade 3)- $275.00 Purse
CD- For Four Year Olds and Upward
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
May 30, 2026

The Aristides BC has regained its graded designation after six years without it, and to celebrate, a strong field of seven will be taking part in this six-furlong sprint on the main track. This is a race that first appeared on the schedule in 2003 for $100.00 as a Grade 3 but would lose that classification in 2018. After taking 2019 off, the race returned in 2020 and has seen its purse gradually increase and reaching $275.00 in 2024. That year, High Time scored the win for Maxmillion Farm, a feat that he would do once again last year. The gelding is still active but will not be back to try for the three-peat. Maxmillion Farm will return with two different runners instead to defend his title. Here’s a look at everyone that will be taking part!

1- Super Powers (La Canada Racehorses, ridden by T Gaffalione)- After spending most of his career in overnights, and having success in those races, Super Powers began to get bigger opportunities more consistently beginning in November. Last time out, he broke through and picked up his biggest career win in the Grade 3 Nerud at AQU. Rain did not get in his way, as he registered a 101 SRF, his highest to-date in the victory. While all of his recent wins have not been as grand, he does have four in his last seven starts and has been in the top four in eleven straight. This may be his 27th start, but he’s never been better.

2- Aggravated Jung (Noblepark, ridden by P Lopez)- This colt by Jung has won nearly half of his career starts, 8 of 17 overall, and that success was rewarded by qualifying for the BC Sprint. To do so, Aggravated Jung won the Grade 2 Gallant Bob at PRX as well as the Grade 3 Perryville at KEE. On good form, he seemed to be a strong contender for the BC Sprint, and he would step up with a third-place finish. Moving on to this year, Aggravated has hit a cold patch, with two duds in his last two starts, which is not something that has happened to him before.

3- Electric (Angelos Stable, ridden by J R Velazquez)- Like Aggravated Jung, Electric took park in the BC Sprint last year, and did so off of back-to-back victories. For him, the wins were in the Grade 3 Bold Venture at WO and then the Grade 3 Vosburg at AQU. However, the BC did not go well, and he finished in the double digits. That has not stopped him, as he was gone on to win four in a row, two being open allowances, and then a pair of Grade 3’s. While he may have struggled in the CD earlier this month, it doesn’t appear to be something to worry about.

4- Mighty (Team 7 Illusions, ridden by R Bejarano)- After spending some time running against statebreds in CA, Mighty would make his way east for the $200.00 St Matthews here last month where he took home the win. The victory was his first at the stake level, and he also earned a career-high 99 SRF in the race. Also, the gelding has been mighty at CD, with three of his five victories coming right here. It’ll be his first graded race here, and if his past tactical style is any indication, everyone should be looking out for him in the stretch.

5- Creepy Romantic (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by L J Luzzi)- As mentioned in the introduction, the trainer is looking for his third straight win in the Aristides BC, and he isn’t messing around with the two that he has brought here. Around this time last year, Creepy Romantic would begin an impressive run of form that saw five wins in six starts. Among the wins were a pair of Grade 2’s: the Vanderbilt Handicap at SAR and the SA Sprint Championship out west. It would be off those wins that he would enter the BC Sprint, which is the lone race in that stretch where he did not come out on top. However, he did run second there, making it every bit as impressive. That streak would end in March, then three weeks ago he ran here in an open allowance and was the runner up. Works continue to be good, and he should be strong here.

6- Chilled Niagra (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- While it is always tough to pick a winner in one of these races, what’s also hard is deciding which of the two Maxmillion horses I like better for this race as both seem to have a strong shot. Chilled Niagra doesn’t quite have the resume as his stablemate, but he enters the Aristides BC on a four-race winning streak. After spending a lot of time on the grass, Chilled Niagra was moved to the dirt for the simply named $110.00 “The Sprint” at TAM where he won, and then did the same in the Grade 3 Fleet Sprint Handicap. He knows how to get it done, with 14 wins in 27 career starts.

7- Blue Finn (Luz International, ridden by J Rosario)- Last to load into the gate is another horse that is riding a winning streak. For Blue Finn, that streak is three, and he is fresh off a win in the $100.00 FHBPA Sprint, for FL-Breds, last month. Prior to that, he had a couple of victories at SUN, which includes another ungraded stake. It marks a perfect start to 2026, and it comes off a year where he did not race a whole lot but still made the most of the opportunities. In 2024, he was more well known as a graded runner and is doing his best to get back to the level with regularity, and that starts right here with a good run.

Prediction: 5-3-6-7

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES