BALTIMORE – It took a course record to do it, but Firecrow finally edged past favored The Critical Way after giving closest chase from the very start of the Grade 3, $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint on the Preakness undercard Saturday at Pimlico. Winning a stakes for the first time, Firecrow finished five furlongs in 55.30 seconds over firm going when shaving .36 seconds off the track mark set six years ago on Preakness weekend. Joel Rosario was aboard the winner for trainer Ron Moquett. He was assigned a Beyer Speed Figure of 100. “We know he’s a fast horse, and we also knew he preferred turf,” said Moquett. “We were just now trying to find the proper spot to get him back on this surface, and we were lucky this race showed up this weekend. We pointed to it, and it worked out perfect.” Firecrow, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Maclean’s Music, returned $21.60 as fifth choice in a field of 13 older turf sprinters. :: DRF Bets players get free Daily Racing Form Past Performances and up to 5% weekly cashback. Click to learn more.  The Critical Way, the 8-5 favorite, flaunted his usual speed when leading from the opening strides until inside the furlong pole, where Firecrow finally wore him down from the outside to prevail by a neck. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Completed Pass in third. Owned by Robert LaPenta and Harlow Stables, Firecrow had not raced on grass since November 2019. His previous start resulted in a fourth-place finish behind standout main-track sprinters C Z Rocket and Whitmore in the March 13 Hot Springs at Oaklawn. He now has won four of 14 overall starts. “That last race was as tough as it gets,” said Moquett. The $2 exacta (11-4) paid $92, the $1 trifecta (11-4-13) returned $167.10, and the 10-cent superfecta (11-4-13-1) was worth $76.62. The Jim McKay is named for the sportscasting legend and longtime Marylander who died in 2008.