2/19/22

   5    GP    The GP Sprint Championship (GIII)

                      $150.000     4yo&Up     6f  Dirt    124 pounds +penalties

Down to SoFla, we catch a full gate for The GP Sprint Championship (GIII), a six furlong dash that is sure to be an exciting race.  Not a single lady in the race, so at least we are clear of that mess… I really don’t see a clear cut favorite in this one as we have as many questions as answers, but I’ll take the defending BC Sprint champ and went with Sweet Sweet Sweet as the top choice.  He flopped in his last race, last being the key word, but he’s done that before and come back to run big… he’s an all or nothing type and I think he’s all today.  Geronimo is another that has run well in some big races so let’s give him the second slot.  He hasn’t won in a while, but he’s usually close and may be due to get home first… like I said, it’s wide open, so let’s see how this one goes. 

Here’s The Field –

Four wins last season including the BC Spring (GI) on the biggest stage possible, but he came back to be last of eleven in the Cigar Hcp (GI) at AQU… so, here we are.  He was ninth in the Vosburgh (GII) prior to the BC win, so he will throw a bad race.  Can he bounce back today?

Hit the board in seven of nine starts last season, kicked off ’22 with a win at TAM and not goes big-game hunting as he normally runs with Alw types vs graded horses.  He’s run some big races, so I think you have to give him a look, but he’s going to need his best with this group. 

He had a sold ’21 year with three wins and a pair of runner-up races, but closed out the year with a whimper.  He missed the board in a trio of starts, then was second (DH) in a five-horse Alw field only to kick-off the new season with a fourth in the Toboggan (GIII) at AQU.  He’s gotta turn it around. 

His only ’21 win was breaking maiden, but he seems to be around at the finish, showing a slew of fourth place efforts.  He tired in a NY-bred Alw race at AQU to get the new season going, so he is another that needs to improve his for or it could be a long day. 

He had a nice three wins season and matched that number in runner-up efforts last year, but had a three race streak that went 11-11-13 before that runner-up effort at FG vs. Alw types.  Still, nine wins from twenty-seven starts, you know he can run, so can get back back on track today?

Another that has been a solid combatant at the Alw level and steps up to graded stakes company today.  Looked good winning at TAM to close out his ’21 campaign but kicked off ’22 with a tiring fifth place finish over this track and at today’s distance.  He needs to improve off of that effot. 

Seven wins from twenty-six lifetime starts, no doubt he knows his way to the winners circle, but he also fits the bill of being more competitive at the Alw level than with the black-type horses.  He’s won two of his last three starts, both Alw races and was sixth in the stakes race, just proving the point. 

Ran off to win the SSM Sprint as the .05/1 favorite.  He was on the board in eight of nine starts last season and just picked up where he left off.  He demandws a lot of attention in this one as well and should be a horse to watch. 

Talk about never a bad race, this one has been wearing out NY bred types for a while showing four wins and five seconds from nine starts last year, then won the Say Florida Sandy for empire breds to get this season started.  He’s fast and should be feared. 

Two stakes wins last season including the Forego (GI) at SAR, and was second in the Vosburgh (GII) so there’s not doubt he can haul the mail.  Changed hands prior to this start but this is a sharp outfit and I’d look for him to be a big factor today. 

Kicked off the season with a nice win, closing to get the victory in the CAC Sprint for Cal breds, and he had a pair of wins from his ten starts last season.  He lit the tote board in that SA win, but he always seems to be in the hunt at any level.  He may be a sleeper. 

Another that won his ’22 debut and that’s better than anything from last year as he went  0’fer.  He was sixth in the Vigil (GIII) north of the border, so he obviously needs his best to be any part of this one. 

COZMAN  1 / 3                 Willie’s Green Card     9 / 4

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES