Quint's Brew tests stakes company in Star de Naskra

Quint’s Brew gets his biggest test to date on Saturday in Laurel’s $75,000 Star de Naskra for Maryland-bred or -sired 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.

Quint’s Brew overcame pace pressure to win his debut at six furlongs over sloppy going March 2, then earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure capturing a first-level allowance around a one-turn mile April 5.

In the latter race, Quint’s Brew swerved inward while leading in the stretch. Once straightened by jockey Raul Mena, he prevailed at odds-on.

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“What [Mena] said was that he hit him with the stick, and then he turned the stick and showed it to him. [At that point], he ducked in a little bit. It was more green than anything,” trainer Michael Gorham said.

Gorham considered Quint’s Brew for the Sir Barton on Preakness Saturday, but felt that would “be a little tough.”

Quint’s Brew led in both starts, but Gorham feels he can sit off a target.

“When we work him, we always have him running at horses,” Gorham added. “He seems more aggressive running to horses.”

Haileysfirstnotion also is flawless after two races.

“He was close to running last year as a 2-year-old and got hurt,” trainer Gary Capuano said. “We had to give him some time. He’s always seemed like a pretty decent kind of horse.”

Capuano wanted to enter Haileysfirstnotion in an easier spot, but “couldn’t get him in the right kind of race, so I figured Maryland-bred, Maryland-sired. He’s going to have to step up a little bit. He acts like a baby sometimes, but he’s getting it together.”

Circle P is the only stakes winner in the field, and he’ll turn back to a sprint for the first time since taking the Maryland Juvenile at seven furlongs on Dec. 2. Circle P finished fourth in a first-level allowance at one mile on June 9.

“I was very happy with the way he ran,” trainer Flint Stites said. “He did everything we asked, except he didn’t quite finish. Turning him back [in distance] will probably help.”

Play Harder has won 4 of 5 for trainer Claudio Gonzalez and exits a game victory over The Band Runs On. Play Harder has prevailed at distances ranging from 5 1/2 furlongs to one mile.

The Band Plays On, the 2022 MHBA Yearling Grand Show Champion, has run to his good looks, hitting the board in all three starts, and has drawn the rail for his stakes debut.

Celtic Contender didn’t perform well in two prior stakes efforts against open company, but they came around two turns against Copper Tax, arguably the best 3-year-old in the region. Celtic Contender dropped in class and distance to win a first-level allowance three weeks ago.

“Right now, it looks like he’s a little more on the sprinter side,” trainer Hamilton Smith said.

Celtic Contender worked a bullet half-mile last Saturday.

“He worked a little stronger than I wanted to, but he did it easy enough,” Smith said. “He’s going into the race as good as we can get him.”

Runaway maiden winner Blue Kingdom and Cap Com complete the field.

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