A $1,000 yearling, It's Sizzling Time smokin' hot coming into Harrison Johnson

It’s Sizzling Time didn’t make his stakes debut until his 40th start, but it was worth the wait for trainer Valrie Smith.

Purchased for $1,000 as a yearling in 2019 by Smith and her husband, fellow trainer Donnovan Haughton, on behalf of owners Chuckie Inc. and Mona Bowley, It’s Sizzling Time benefited from a ground-saving trip under jockey Jean Briceno to upset last month’s John B. Campbell.

The 6-year-old gelding seeks his third consecutive victory in the $100,000 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial, one of three stakes on Saturday at Laurel Park.

Smith, a native of Jamaica, trained her first winner in 2018. It’s Sizzling Time is her first stakes winner and the star of her four-horse stable. He returned from a two-month layoff to shock a salty allowance field at 34-1 on New Year’s Eve before capturing the Campbell.

“The older he gets, the more mature he gets,” Smith said after the Campbell. “We wanted to break well and sit, and just make one run. That’s what he loves.”

As for tactics on Saturday, Smith will leave it up to Briceno.

“They have formed a little bond together,” she said. “He’s been training really well.”

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Nimitz Class dominated the 2023 Harrison E. Johnson during a five-race winning streak and again looks like the horse to beat.

Purchased privately earlier this winter, Nimitz Class made his first start for trainer George Weaver when eighth in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup. He then finished fourth when cut back to seven furlongs in the Grade 3 General George on Feb. 17 at Laurel.

Nimitz Class should appreciate stretching out to a one-turn mile. He won four stakes routing in 2023.

Grade 2 winner Double Crown was nosed out by It’s Sizzling Time in the Campbell while covering more ground. He returned two weeks later to finish fifth of eight over a sloppy track in Aqueduct’s Stymie.

Shaft’s Bullet and Magic Michael renew their rivalry. After being defeated twice by Magic Michael, Shaft’s Bullet turned the tables with a neck victory on Feb. 25.

Magic Michael was offered for the $55,000 claiming option in his last two starts, but the Grade 3 winner brings back class for trainer Jamie Ness.

Dollarization stretches out in distance and could control the pace. The winner of Pimlico’s six-furlong Lite the Fuse last summer, Dollarization has won three routes. Adero steps up in class after two runner-up efforts against allowance types at Parx Racing.

Not For Love

Continuing the theme of inexpensive yearlings making good, how about Coffeewithchris?

Purchased for $2,000 by trainer John Salzman Jr. in 2021, Coffeewithchris has won two stakes, placed in five more, and represented the locals in last year’s Preakness.

Coffeewithchris turns back to a sprint for the first time since last fall in the $75,000 Not For Love, a six-furlong race for Maryland-bred or -sired 4-year-olds and up.

“I opted to cut back in distance to try something different,” Salzman said. “He’s just not running his numbers that he was running before. He’s really feeling good.”

Coffeewithchris shows speed going long, but Salzman believes his charge will make a run from off the pace considering the plethora of fleet horses in the field.

Rominski looks like one of the speeds. A gate-to-wire winner in each of his last three starts, Rominski was cross-entered in a Friday allowance, but runs here, per text from trainer Kieron Magee.

Arden’sluckytobe had a terrible trip in last year’s Not For Love.

“He was crowded on the rail and almost put into the infield,” trainer Diana McClure said. “He fractured his splint bone and went right to the operating table.”

McClure said Arden’sluckytobe has persistent troubles with his feet, but she has nursed him into career form with gate-to-wire wins in his last two starts. She credits jockey Tais Lyapustina for helping the horse reach his full potential.

Take a Hint had a two-race win streak snapped when third at odds-on in an open second-level allowance. He’s another who should be part of the pace.

Kenny Had a Notion, a multiple stakes-winning sprinter at Laurel, placed second in this race last year at 41-1.

Ace Nine Nine jumps up from a nickel starter allowance. Exculpatory also was cross-entered in the Friday allowance.

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Conniver

Golden Tabby, a winner in half of her 18 starts, could be the one to catch and beat in the Conniver, a seven-furlong race for Maryland-bred or -sired fillies and mares.

Trained by Ness, Golden Tabby just missed last time when second to multiple stakes winner Disco Ebo in a high-level allowance at Parx Racing.

Golden Tabby will tackle stakes-placed foes such as Fast Tracked and Royal Whisper. Nine-time winner My Flicker makes her first start off the Brittany Russell claim, while Too Many Kisses and Bay Street recently ran well to be one-two in a state-sired allowance event. Bella Bettina and Sultry Sally H also entered.

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