Tracksmith prevails in Woodchopper Stakes

Tracksmith concluded a solid season by prevailing in a blanket finish to win the $75,000 Woodchopper Stakes for 3-year-olds Saturday on the Fair Grounds turf. The race, the highlight of three stakes on the Fair Grounds program, also marked the return to the races of Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston, but he was never involved while finishing last.

Tracksmith ($8.80), sent away favored in a field that numbered 12 starters despite several scratches, broke from post 10 with Adam Beschizza in the irons. The colt was fanned seven wide in a contentious run into the first turn, but when the field straightened away into the backstretch, he had recovered to stalk the pace in fifth on the outside, under restraint while sitting about 1 1/2 lengths off pacesetter Clint Maroon through a half in 49.82 seconds on a turf course rated yielding. From that good striking position, Tracksmith improved while four wide around the turn, and poked a head in front when straightened away into the lane. He steadily ground away through the stretch run as Clint Maroon grudgingly gave way; Flying Scotsman, who broke from the rail position, made a brave bid in tight quarters down inside; and Spectacular Gem, who had been bumped several times in the opening stages, was rallying strongly on the far outside. At the wire, Tracksmith prevailed by a half-length over Flying Scotsman and Spectacular Gem, who finished in a dead heat for second. Clint Maroon was another half-length behind them in fourth. The final time for the mile was 1:39.07.

Tracksmith, by Street Sense, was a $130,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s April sale of 2-year-olds in training last year, and was turned over to trainer Joe Sharp. The colt was a debut winner at Ellis Park in August 2018 before finishing second in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Stakes, beaten just a head by Henley's Joy, a Grade 1 winner this season. However, he was then unplaced in a pair of graded stakes in Kentucky to end his 2-year-old season. He re-emerged in June, winning an allowance race at Churchill Downs off a seven-month layoff, then captured the Frisk Me Now Stakes at Monmouth.

Tracksmith returned to graded company to finish fourth in the Grade 3 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs. He acquitted himself well in a pair of subsequent stakes outings at Churchill Downs, finishing second to Spectacular Gem in the Jefferson Cup on Sept. 28 and second by a half-length to Mr. Dumas in the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf on Nov. 9, setting himself up for his trip to New Orleans.

"One of the top five favorite horses I’ve ever had in my barn," Sharp said. "Just an honest horse day in and day out. Shows up every day with his ears pricked and just ready to do his job. [Calumet] has been patient with him and given him time to develop he’s paid them dividends. He’s a pleasure to train."

Sharp mentioned the Grade 3 John B. Connally Turf on Jan. 26 at Sam Houston as a possible target for Tracksmith.

Meanwhile, Sir Winston was making his first start since winning the Belmont Stakes on June 7. A minor ankle issue derailed his chances of participating in the major summer and fall events for 3-year-olds. The colt had finished ninth in his only prior start on turf, a maiden race in summer 2018 at Saratoga, but he did break his maiden and win the Display Stakes on Woodbine's synthetic track, as well as finishing third in the Grade 3 Grey Stakes there. In the Woodchopper, he was bumped at the break and never became involved afterward, trailing throughout.

"He had to check a little bit early in the race and never really felt comfortable out there,” David Carroll, assistant to trainer Mark Casse, said. "His ears were flat back and he never really took part in the race at all. You could tell wasn’t happy. We are disappointed. He trained too good to run that poorly and didn’t get much out of the race."

• Earlier on the card, Zofelle ($7.20) remained unbeaten in three starts in the U.S. since coming to Europe, winning the $75,000 Pago Hop Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Zofelle, with Florent Geroux aboard for Brendan Walsh, was 10th in a field of 13 at the quarter pole, but rallied powerfully down the center of the course in the lane, driving by pacesetter Elle's Town – who led by more than three lengths in the stretch – to win by a length going away. She finished the mile in 1:37.61 on the yielding turf.
  After the top two, it was 3 1/2 lengths back to She'sonthewarpath in third. She edged favored Dalika by three-quarters of a length for that spot after the favorite failed to mount a serious rally.
• Play On ($9.60) was a handy 1 1/4-length victor in the $75,000 Pan Zareta Stakes for fillies and mares sprinting on the turf for Brad Cox. The trainer won three races on the card – one of those with Geroux, who rode to three victories.
  Play On stalked the pace in third under Shaun Bridgmohan, swept to the lead near the three-sixteenths marker, and was never seriously challenged from there. She finished the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.31. Behind her, Change of Control edged out pacesetter Ruby Trust by a half-length for second. Favored Violent Times was bumped at the break, rushed up to stalk the pace in second, and tired to finish ninth.
  This was the second stakes victory of the season for Play On, who won the Melody Of Colors Stakes in February at Gulfstream. She came into Saturday's race off a strong runner-up effort in the Richard Scherer Memorial, beaten just a head by the older multiple graded stakes winner Hotshot Anna.