Local contingent faces tough shippers in Maryland Sprint
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The Grade 3, $100,000 Maryland Sprint on Saturday at Pimlico is about local pride. Exactly half the 10-horse field for the six-furlong race, led by graded stakes winner Wondrwherecraigis, is based in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Wondrwherecraigis, stabled at Laurel Park with Brittany Russell, is the 4-1 third choice on the morning line behind Kentucky-based Nakatomi at 5-2 and California shipper Straight No Chaser at 3-1.
Wondrwherecraigis, who is approaching a half-million in career earnings, is the only member of this field to have won at Pimlico, with two wins and a close second in three starts at the allowance/optional-claiming level. Racing at higher levels, the gelding has crossed the line first in four stakes races, including the 2021 Grade 3 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash, in which he was disqualified to second, and the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park.
Wondrwherecraigis made his first start in more than seven months in an allowance/optional-claiming race going this six-furlong distance on April 13 at Laurel. He led from start to finish while pressed throughout, and held on by a head over multiple stakes winner Witty, with Grade 1-placed Borracho finishing third. The season-opening win was also the first win of the year for jockey Sheldon Russell, Brittany’s husband, who took time at the end of last season to recover from physical issues.
“We were just so delighted with his last race,” Brittany Russell said. “It was a really gutsy effort. He ran fast and he kept his head down. He came out of that race in really good shape, too, so that was sort of the main thing. These sprinters, they run hard. The important thing is keeping them happy and healthy.
“It’s great timing to run him here,” Russell said of the Maryland Sprint. “He’s worked well, he’s trained well, so I’m really excited. He likes Pimlico, [and] the distance is perfect.”
Russell will also saddle stakes winner Hello Hot Rod, who she originally trained as a young horse, and who returned to her barn this winter after racing in other jurisdictions. He was most recently second in the Frank Y. Whiteley Stakes at Laurel in his third start back under her care.
The Mid-Atlantic-based entrants also include Threesoverdeuces and War Tocsin, who were second and third, respectively, in this race last year. Al Loves Josie is stakes-placed at Laurel.
Nakatomi is still seeking his first career graded stakes win for trainer Wesley Ward, but has been competing consistently at the level this year. He was third in the Grade 3 Tom Fool at Aqueduct, and, most recently was fourth in the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Keeneland, beaten a nose for third.
Straight No Chaser, third in the Grade 3 Palos Verdes earlier this year for Dan Blacker, showed the ability to travel from his California base when turning in a sharp 7 1/4-length allowance/optional-claiming win at Oaklawn Park. His career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 101 is the top last-out number in this field.
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Straight No Chaser was ridden by John Velazquez in that strong performance, and retains the services of the Hall of Fame rider. Straight No Chaser, who will break from post 8, and Wondrwherecraigis, who drew the outside post, will both want to be forwardly placed.
Prevalence is a threat if he returns to his career best for trainer Brendan Walsh. Winless since winning the 2022 edition of the Commonwealth at Keeneland going seven furlongs, all his starts this season have come at seven furlongs or longer – including a failed experiment at 1 1/16 miles on turf last time out.
The race has enough pace to give his stretch run some punch.
Full Authority and Willy Boi complete the field.
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