The Sanford (Grade 3)- $175.000 Purse
SAR- For Two Year Olds
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
July 13, 2024

We are very early in the two year old stake racing season, but for the time being, we cannot overlook what Without Warning has done for TwinTowersRacing. In his three races, he has three wins, and he has enjoyed it here at the Spa. He won the Tremont here last month, and now in the Sanford, he picked up the win again! He saw a familiar face at the wire as well, as Comanche Smoke, who was second in the Tremont was second to him again. This was not a surprise to us, as we was our pick to win, and the bettors made him the second choice. It’s the first win in the Sanford for TwinTowersRacing and for jockey F Geroux. Congratulations to them! The time of the race was 1:09.28, the third quickest in the stake’s history and fastest since 2016. Let’s look at it now!

(1/4 Mile- :22.33)- Out front early, it will be Decal, the Williams9 entry that was the post time favorite. To his inside, he would have some company, as our eventual winner from TwinTowersRacing, Without Warning was within a length while on the rail. Behind them, they are four wide going into the turn, with Rock Salt being about a half length ahead of the others for Red Fox Farms. The other three, Risecock (Night Rider Stables), Summer Madness (Fractious), and Swaps (Fractious) ran evenly with one another. After a length and a half, Whatever Will Be (Asgar) was next while on the far outside, with Maymun (D J C Racing Stables) and Comanche Smoke (Mb Stables) being to his inside. Cherokee War Dance (Riggins Racing) and Serenity Now (Winning Link Stables) are at the back.

(½ Mile- :45.45, Top of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- Decal leads going around the turn, but as soon as they get to the top of the stretch, Without Warning has pulled up evenly with him and looked poised to take over the top spot. They had about a two length lead on the rest of the field, with Summer Madness running third, but with Risecock very close to his inside. Rock Salt is trying to hang with them, but Swaps is beginning to lose ground. Comanche Smoke is looking for some room to run, and so to was Maymun. Cherokee War Dance had a clear lane on the rail if he could take advantage of it. Whatever Will Be and Serenity Now were caught far more wide than desired.

(Finish- 1:09.28)- With a furlong to go, Without Warning pulled a length ahead of Decal, but could not draw away from that one and Summer Madness was inching a little closer. Could there be time for that one? Comanche Smoke began to turn it on while approaching the wire, but this run started too late. Getting closer to the wire, Without Warning would run steady enough to the wire to remain unthreatened for the win but will be glad the finish line came when it did. Comanche Smoke was good enough for second, in a three way photo for place between he, third place finisher Summer Madness, and Decal. Risecock did not rise up to the challenge in the stretch, but holds off Cherokee War Dance and Maymun for fifth. The rest of the order will read Whatever Will Be, Serenity Now, Rock Salt and Swaps.

About The Winner- Without Warning, trained by TwinTowersRacing and ridden by F Geroux, is a two year old colt by Neon Wolf and is out of the late Ruffian Gal. He was bred in New York as a first quarter two year old by his trainer and they have been together throughout! Congratulations to the connections! The win is his third in three starts, second stake win, and first graded win. His career earnings are now $231.600.

Track: Fast
Time: :22¹  :45²  :57¹  1:09¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 9 Paid 105.20
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 9 – 3 Paid 90.80

Scratched: Meet The Chief(L)

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES