Lite the Fuse one of five undercard stakes at Pimlico

Wondrwherecraigis is the 7-5 morning-line favorite in Pimlico’s $100,000 Lite the Fuse, one of five supporting stakes on the Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup card Saturday at Pimlico.

The Lite the Fuse is for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs.

A 6-year-old gelded son of Munnings, Wondrwherecraigis became trainer Brittany Russell’s first graded winner when he captured the 2021 Bold Ruler at Belmont Park.

A winner in his seasonal debut on April 13 at Laurel Park, Wondrwherecraigis finished sixth in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint, then was second for the third consecutive year in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash on July 29.

Wondrwherecraigis figures on or near the lead under Sheldon Russell after breaking from the outside post.

Maryland-bred Jaxon Traveler was named the state’s champion 2-year-old male in 2020 and champion 3-year-old male the following season. A Grade 3 winner at Pimlico last year, Jaxon Traveler figures to be fit after prepping on turf at Saratoga, his first start after 236 days on the sidelines.

Stage Left looks for his third consecutive victory after taking Monmouth Park’s Rumson at five furlongs on Sept. 3.

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Trainer Ray Ginter Jr. entered Sir Alfred James and Cowan, but Cowan will scratch, according to Lynn Cash, the owner of Built Wright Stables. Sir Alfred James has earned $924,499 and will be making his third start since finishing fifth behind Cody’s Wish in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs on May 6.

Dollarization and Little Roo Roo also are entered.

Scaramouche is expected to scratch, according to trainer Lupe Preciado.

In other stakes action:

◗ Witty, a half-brother to reigning Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Caravel, is likely to start favored in the $75,000 Ben’s Cat for Maryland-bred or -sired 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs on turf.

The 4-year-old can be his own worst enemy, however, as he often breaks tardily. Elizabeth Merryman, who bred, owns, and trains Witty, was pleased with how Witty broke in his most recent start, the Marshall Jenney Stakes for Pennsylvania-breds on Aug. 21 at Parx Racing, but other circumstances led him to finish a close second as the odds-on favorite.

“He jumped a patch of rough ground on the backside and lost his footing,” Merryman said. “He’s a big horse and that cost him momentum. He was a little stiff and sore for a week after it, but fortunately we escaped a serious injury.”

Sky’s Not Falling cuts back in distance after eight consecutive routes. He won his last start going short, the Maryland Million Turf Sprint last fall.

◗ First to Act drops out of three consecutive graded events for the $75,000 Shine Again at six furlongs for fillies and mares who have not won an open stakes.

The concern is that First to Act has never raced as short as six furlongs, and she finished last of seven in her only start this year, the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher on July 23 at Monmouth.

“I don’t know what happened to her at Monmouth,” McGaughey told Pimlico publicity. We’re just trying to start over. We’ve been running her long, and some of the Curlins look like they wanted to sprint a little bit, especially the ones that are out of speed mares.”

◗ With Jonathan Thomas on the fence as to whether he’ll start morning-line favorite Mouffy, Full Count Felicia deserves strong consideration for Brittany and Sheldon Russell in the $100,000 All Along for fillies and mares at nine furlongs on turf.

Full Count Felicia was an impressive six-length winner of her final start of 2022, then showed no rust in winning at Colonial Downs last month following a 273-day layoff.

Milagrosa Surena, a Group 1 winner on turf in her native Argentina, returns to grass for her second start in North America.

Creative Cairo ran a good third in a second-level allowance at Monmouth in her first start for trainer Lindsay Schultz.

“The mare is huge, nearly 1,200 pounds,” Schultz said. “For her to run that well off the layoff, we’re definitely encouraged.”

Schultz said she’s looking forward to stretching Creative Cairo out to nine furlongs.

Willakia, Eidikos, and Unruly Julie look like contenders. Myriskyaffair is a questionable starter, per trainer Christophe Clement.

◗ “I don’t think I’ve ever had a horse go off at 96-1,” trainer Michael Matz said with a laugh when discussing Late Frost’s last race, a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks.

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Late Frost will go off at a mere fraction of that price in the $100,000 Weather Vane for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs, as the Frosted filly earned a 90 Beyer at Charles Town.

Ms. Bucchero has won three of her last four starts and had an excuse for her seventh-place finish in Delaware Park’s Dashing Beauty on July 8.

“She got messed in the gate and blew a shoe,” trainer Diane Morici said. “She struggled to get to them when she didn’t break right.”

Blind Spot cuts back in distance and moves back to dirt for Saffie Joseph Jr.

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