The McKay Turf Sprint
$125.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward
5 1/2 Furlongs – Turf
Laurel Park – May 16, 2026

Jim McKay. Legend. Anyone who was lucky enough to watch racing in the golden era (to me) knows exactly who this iconic broadcaster is. Recent racing broadcasts where horse racing seems to be an also ran to “what are you wearing”  interviews with celebrities (so I’m told), ex jockeys eating meat and drink recipes make me long for the days of Jim McKay and the likes of Charlsie Cantey actually focusing on the racing. He was a true horse racing enthusiast and having this race named after him is a fitting tribute. This year will be the twentieth running of the HRP edition of this Preakness undercard turf sprint and it has drawn a field of nine. The race is normally run at five furlongs but it will be run this year at five and a half furlongs. It is also the first time it will be run away from Pimlico while that track undergoes renovation. The forecast is for a firm course.

1. Bayldonite (The Sidley Stud/P. Lopez) Finished a close fifth in the G2 Shakertown where the winner and runner-up came back to finish first and third in the G2 TS Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on Derby day. That race flatters him and he missed by a neck and a nose in his two previous stakes runs so consider him ready.

2. Boss Mb (Williams9/R.M. Hernandez) The only three year old in the field and he gets a five pound break in the weights by virtue of his youth. He has run third in two unlisted stakes races restricted to three year olds so he has some talent. Cuts back to sprinting on the grass which is how he broke his maiden and that shorter distance along with the weight allowance should help. 

3. Neagh (D J C Racing Stables/S. Elliott) The five year old D J C homebred has run twice so far this season and his last race was a return to turf sprinting and he showed improved form from his 2026 debut when he finished second in a NY-bred optional claimer. He has not yet made it to the winner’s circle in his seven previous stakes efforts but is working well.

4. Full On Express (Alabarda Stable/F. Boyce) This lightly raced four year old was claimed last July for the bargain price of $4.000. Since switching barns he has been a model of consistency in his six races for Alabarda Stable. He made his stakes debut in his last start and finished a face closing second in The Appleton just failing by a half length to extend his winning streak to three races. He will return to sprinting but that should not be an issue. Sharp works say contender. 

5. Stalagtite (Maxmillion Farm/D.E. Centeno) He was purchased privately for $70.000 last summer and was placed right into stakes company finishing sixth in the Carle Place on a good track where he showed early speed. He followed that up with a much better second in the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship. He only lost by a half length that day but the winner from that race has failed to hit the board since. His most recent race was a fourth in a high level allowance at Santa Anita. Has ability but will need to be in top form. 

6. Earthshine (Black N Gold Stable/V. Espinoza) Has been scorching the track in the morning but has not yet translated those works into afternoon performances against stakes caliber competition. He has finished fourth in his last two races which were both turf sprint stakes at Santa Anita but his fourth in the Sensational Star Stakes was just a neck short of being a winner. While he attempted to come from off the pace in those last two starts his win three races back was a wire to wire effort. The shorter distance might force him to be closer to the pace this time.

7. Teen Angel Party (Nakamura Stables/R. Bejarano) He is a graded stakes winner by virtue of getting his nose down first in the G3 Daytona Stakes at Santa Anita last June. He has not replicated that level of success since but his last start was a second place in the CA-bred Sensational Star Stakes where he failed to hold on by a scant nose. Earthshine who draws right to his inside was right there with him at the wire. It is worth noting that Teen Angel Party draws much better today than his post twelve in the Sensational Star. Earthshine drew post three that day.

8. Bold Fantasy (London Racing/M. Franco) He has career earnings of $23.040 from two wins in eleven starts and makes his stakes debut here. He has run three times on the grass winning two of his three turf sprints. One win was his maiden breaker in a $4.500 maiden claiming race and his second win was restricted allowance at Tampa Bay which was his best effort to date. Ambitious placing but we’ve seen big surprises before. 

9. Spin Zone (Mb Stables/J.R. Velasquez) In stark contrast to the competitor to his inside he boasts the biggest bank account in the field having earned $736.940 in his seventeen race career. He is a five time stakes winner including back to back graded wins last summer at Saratoga. He finished a close fourth in a crowded G1 BC Turf Sprint to finish his 2025 season and came back strong in his first two races this year. He missed by a neck in the Kenner Stakes and then followed up with a win in the Colonel Power. His last two starts however were uncharacteristically bad and lead to questions about current form. 

Bayldonite draws the rail and comes out of a very formful race so he will be the pick. Although he lacks the stakes experience and success of others in the field, Full On Express may be the in form horse ready to take a step up so we’ll take a shot picking him second. Put Teen Angel Party third with Spin Zone fourth.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded