Highestdistinction cruises home in BWI Turf Cup

BALTIMORE —The Summer of Schultz rolled on at Pimlico on Saturday as Highestdistinction captured his third straight victory with an easy score in the Grade 3, $200,000 Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup for 3-year-olds and up at one mile.

Trainer Lindsay Schultz has won four stakes races since July 15, including her first career graded win with Whelen Springs in Monmouth’s Philip H. Iselin on Aug. 19.

A former assistant to trainer Tom Proctor, Schultz went out on her own at the start of 2022 and has won with more than 20 percent of her starters.

Schultz told Daily Racing Form earlier this week that Highestdistinction is a horse with a high cruising speed that likes to race outside and in the clear.

“It’s how he likes to run, which isn’t ideal for turf horses,” Schultz said. “If we can get him cruising, he wants to keep on running.”

Schultz admitted in the winner’s circle to being a bit concerned about the lack of pace in the BWI Turf Cup, a race scratched down to only four participants.

She needn’t have worried, however, as jockey Paco Lopez settled Highestdistinction outside in the second flight as King Vega carved out fractions of 23.46 seconds, 47.52, and 1:11.39 over the good turf.

Favored Smokin’ T raced outside the pacesetter on the backstretch, but never looked comfortable and offered no resistance when the winner swept by him on the second turn.

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Highestdistinction confronted King Vega turning for home, and they bumped off each other in upper stretch. Highestdistinction shrugged off the inconvenience, though, and went on his way to finish 3 3/4 lengths ahead of King Vega in 1:36.63.

Smokin’ T held third, five lengths behind runner-up King Vega. He’spuregold trailed. Doppelganger, Wolfie’s Dynaghost, Cazadero, Business Model, and Tee At One all scratched.

Highestdistinction returned $7.80 to win as the third choice in the wagering.

“He looked [King Vega] in the eye and kind of kicked again,” Schultz said. “These older horses, once they get some confidence, you don’t know how good they can be.”

A 6-year-old gelding by Point of Entry, Highestdistinction is a homebred owned by Willow Lane Stables. He was transferred to Schultz’s care during the spring after campaigning for Randy Morse and Robert Medina.

Highestdistinction finished second in his first start for Schultz, a second-level allowance at Monmouth on May 27. He rebounded with a victory in a $50,000 starter allowance on July 14 at Delaware, then won Monmouth’s Oceanport in his final start before the Turf Cup.

Overall, Highestdistinction has won 5 of 21 starts for lifetime earnings of $333,542.

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