Sweet Soddy J overcomes bump to take Timonium Juvenile

Sweet Soddy J overcame traffic trouble to capture Saturday's $75,000 Timonium Juvenile for 2-year-olds at about 6 1/2 furlongs.

Trained by Raymond Ginter, Jr., Sweet Soddy J bobbled at the start, then was forced inward during the opening furlong and actually bounced off the rail passing the stands the first time.

Jockey Jeiron Barbosa soon straightened the gelding out, however, and they tracked from the pocket as favored Frosty the Giant set fractions of 23.22 and 46.99 while pressured by Dance for Green and a three-wide Jubawithatwist.

Sweet Soddy J travelled sweetly on the backstretch and on the second turn but was held up behind horses with nowhere to run until a tiring Frosty the Giant drifted off the rail turning into the short stretch.

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Barbosa had waited for this seam to materialize. He guided Sweet Soddy J through, and they made the lead with a minimum of fuss.

Sweet Soddy J didn't change leads in the final furlong but had plenty under the wire to complete the distance in 1:19.30 while three lengths better than Determined Driver.

It was another three-quarters back to Frosty the Giant and Jubawithatwist, who dead-heated for third. Then came Dance for Green, Grumpy Brooksie, and Cataleya Strike. Low Mileage scratched. Sweet Soddy J returned $20.20 to win as the fifth choice in the betting.

"I don't think he had a good trip," said owner-breeder Lynn Cash, who campaigns Sweet Soddy J under the name of his Built Wright Stables. "He really performed well, I'm excited about the future."

Sweet Soddy J won his debut, a $40,000 maiden claimer traveling six furlongs on dirt at Colonial on Aug. 10. Clockers caught him going five-eighths of a mile on grass three days later at Laurel, but trainer Ginter said that workout was not planned.

"We put him out there to see if he liked the turf, and he ran off, and the clocker caught him.”

Determined Driver, the lone filly in the race, ran well for second. She bobbled at the start and was pinched back to last, then rushed up into contention while outside. Four wide and moving on the second turn, she stayed on nicely in the stretch.

A gelded son of Bee Jersey, Sweet Soddy J has earned $72,000 from his two starts to date.

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