SSM Sprint ($75.000 Purse)
GP- For Four Year Olds and Upward Foaled in FL
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
January 14, 2023

The SSM Sprint looked like a two-horse race from the start. John Deere and Pearls Before Swine were the class of the four-horse field, and it would probably take a career best effort for one of the other two to score the victory. In the end, that’s exactly what we got. These two went head-to-head in their last start, up state at TAM, and while neither would be the winner, Pearls Before Swine ran better than John Deere. Now, it would be John Deere’s turn, and he would step up to run a brilliant race today, allowing trainer T Boy Racing and jockey Al Gonzalez to each win this race for the first time. The winning time of 1:09.07 is the third quickest since the race went to a FL-bred restriction. Interestingly, the first and third quickest editions of the race were after the purse was cut to the current amount. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :22.51)- Pearls Before Swine takes the early lead of the race and will hold a length lead moving down the backstretch, ahead of T Boy Racing’s other entry, Catch The Heat. Bodie Lighthouse is third, and within a length of that one for First Flight Stable while the eventual winner, T Boy Racing’s John Deere runs at the back. He is not far behind at all, however, as he only needs to make up two lengths.

(1/2 Mile- :45.26, Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Pearls Before Swine completes the backstretch portion and rounds the turn while looking to be in very good shape. He has extended his lead to two lengths now, over Bodie Lighthouse, who is not able to keep up. John Deere has passed his stablemate and moved into the third spot, but with three lengths to make up on a formidable rival, you had to wonder if there would be enough time for him.

(Finish- 1:09.07)- Entering the stretch, Pearls Before Swine seems to be running good enough to where it looked like he might go wire to wire, but in the final furlong of the race, things began to look a little different. This is where John Deere was at his best, and now his gradual progress became a lot more significant. Soon, it looked like they might hit the wire together, but even that would change as John Deere completed the pass with time to spare and wins by a length. Pearls Before Swine is second, two lengths ahead of Bodie Lighthouse, with Catch The Heat struggling today.

About The Winner- John Deere, trained by T Boy Racing and ridden to victory by Al Gonzalez, is a six-year-old gelding by Wreaking Havoc and is out of Apert. He was bred in Florida as a second quarter two-year-old by Mb Stables and was acquired by T Boy Racing in private sales in February 2021 for $400.000. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fourteenth in 34 starts, and his tenth stake win. His career earnings are now $2,038.640.

Track: Fast
Time: :22²  :45¹  :56⁴  1:09

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 4 Paid 2.00

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded