Starforaday Uses Big Brown Shoes
Prado, Starforaday Win in Photo Finish on Racing's Longest Day
Edgar Prado ridden Starforaday got an appropriate photo finish win on Preakness Stakes day, the season's longest card, to help pitch his Big Brown-like, glue-on shoes.
The season's longest race card, on May 17th's Preakness Stakes day, yielded a photo finish for a win by jockey Edgar Prado on appropriately named Starforaday.
Trained by Gary Contessa, and wearing shoes similar to those of Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes champion Big Brown, Starforaday went to post in the $100,000 Maryland Sprint Handicap for older horses. Starforaday ran the graded 3, 6 furlong sprint in time of 1:09.56
Starforaday eked out the victory in the day's first stakes race over second place Suave Jazz, and by a neck over Cognac Kisses, the favorite who led most of the race. Contessa commented on Starforaday's shoes afterward, saying his horse was another walking advertisement for the glue-on shoes also worn by Big Brown.
Dixie Stakes
Nine older horses contested the $250,000, 1-1/8 miles, graded 2 Dixie Stakes, won by Pays to Dream. Winning jockey Javier Castellano said he couldn't find Shakis, the favorite, but got his mount to shoot through a hole turning for home, and "he exploded". Pays to Dream is trained by David Donk.
Stay Close stayed for second, and Ra Der Dean came in third. The win by 7-1/2 lengths went in time of 1:54.74.
Allaire DuPont Distaff
Eight older horses entered the $150,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff, graded 2, a 1-1/16 miles contest. Jockey Jamie Theriot had the quick lead with favorite Bear Now, but Buy the Barrel, with Gabriel Saez aboard, prevailed, gearing into the lead in the final furlong to win drawing away by 2-1/2 lengths in time of 1:42.43.
Buy the Barrel is trained by Larry Jones. Chris Grove-trained Lexi Star finished second, while Bear Now held up for third.
Hirsch Jacobs Stakes
Eight 3-year-olds entered the $100,000 Hirsch Jacobs Stakes, graded 3, for a 6 furlong sprint, with Lantana Mob closing by a neck over Silver Edition. Force Freeze went third.
The winning time was 1:09.10. Robby Albarado rode the Steve Asmussen-trained winner.
Barbaro Stakes
Roman Emperor won the second annual Barbaro Stakes, a $100,000, 1-1/16 miles contest.
Old Mutual Turf Sprint
The $75,000 Old Mutual Turf Sprint featured eleven older horses sprinting 5 furlong. Heros Reward, trained by Dale Capuano, and ridden by Javier Castellano, got up by a neck over True to Tradition to win in 59.19. Blue Sailor finished third.
Skipat Stakes
My Sister Sue led the $75,000, 6 furlong Skipat Stakes until the stretch, when favorite Akronism finished fast to win by a neck. Acinonyx went third.
Winning time was 1:09.76. Akronism is trained by Tim Ritchy and saddled by Pablo Morales.
