Sprint suits Mr. Golden Rule

Mr. Golden Ruler bit off more than he could chew when he tried Sunland Park's Borderland Derby on Feb. 16. He got back on his game in an allowance sprint a month later, however, and takes another shot at a stakes in the $50,000 Daylight Sprint at Sunland.

The six-furlong race for 3-year-olds lured a field of six.

Trained by Dwain Grissom, Mr. Golden Ruler flashed talent with two good sprints in January - a maiden win and a second in an allowance. His connections tried the 1 1/16-mile Borderland Derby, but after opening up a six-length lead down the backside Mr. Golden Ruler hit a wall and faltered to finish last of five, beaten 22 3/4 lengths.

Moved back to sprinting and to the allowance ranks on March 16, Mr. Golden Ruler responded smartly, winning handily in wire-to-wire fashion, posting a 94 Beyer Speed Figure in the process. Jorge Espitia rides.

The main danger figures to come from Oaklawn shipper Stonestreet Song. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Stonestreet Song dueled and gamely prevailed over allowance foes at Oaklawn on March 22. Prior to that, Stonestreet Song, who cost $300,000 as a weanling, won his maiden in the slop at Fair Grounds on Jan. 24 and then ran second to the talented Macho Again in an allowance there Feb. 28. Casey Lambert rides.

Vinny V. beat Mr. Golden Ruler when they met locally on Jan. 19. He was recently second against allowance rivals on March 11. Travis Wales, up for those two races, has the call again for trainer Jon Arnett.

Quiet Again whipped maidens locally on Feb. 26 and then finished second, 2 1/4 lengths behind Mr. Golden Ruler, on March 16. Ken Tohill has the mount for trainer Jimmie Claridge.