Suave Jazz rested, ready for Sprint

BALTIMORE - Trainer Tony Dutrow is hoping that the investment he made in Suave Jazz late last year will pay dividends, beginning Saturday.

Suave Jazz was given a lengthy freshening at the end of 2007, with the hope, Dutrow said Thursday, "of bringing back a nice, fresh horse for 2008." Suave Jazz will look to begin his 2008 campaign on a winning note Saturday at Pimlico, when he returns from a six-month layoff in the Grade 3, $100,000 Maryland Sprint Handicap for older horses.

"I saw enough potential in 2007 that I thought maybe he can come back and be even better," Dutrow said. "It seemed like he was always improving. But had never - never - had a break."

Suave Jazz raced nine times last year, winning five and finishing second the other four times. He won an allowance race on the Preakness undercard a year ago, then finished second in the Grade 2 True North Handicap at Belmont Park. He has been in steady training at Aqueduct in preparation for the Maryland Sprint.

"He's doing very, very good," Dutrow said. "So far, so good."

Six others are entered in the six-furlong race, including Starforaday, who returned from a six-month layoff to beat a second-level allowance field in fast time at Belmont Park earlier this month.

Cognac Kisses comes off an unlucky second-place finish in the Allen's Prospect Stakes at this track. The winner, Ravalo, came back to win the Decathlon Stakes at Monmouth last Saturday.

The Maryland Sprint Handicap is the third race on the card, and the first of six graded stakes that will be run at Pimlico on Saturday.