Sprinters on the feature at Maryland

The feature for this week in Maryland is the Grade III Count Fingers Sprint, in which fourteen older sprinters will be going to the post for a $125,000 purse. Judging from the ML odds, it will be a handicapper’s nightmare. Let’s see if this holds true:

1. NXSS STORM PULPIT (38-7-5-5) – This horse is coming from a victory at the 30,000 claiming level. Before this one, his last win was in a conditioned allowance race. He will need his best effort and then a lil bit more to have a chance in this solid group.
2. MOUNTAIN TED (IRE) (22-9-2-2) – Stakes winner who’s taking a step in class by taking on graded quality sprinters. A very honest horse that will need to improve to win here, but his SFs are competitive against these. Don’t trash him!
3. SALT FLAT FEVER (18-3-6-2) – This horse is one of the freshest in the race, and is coming from a good routing effort in Graded Company. Taking a cut back in distance maybe can fall a lil short. I prefer to see him at 7 furlongs or beyond.
4. SKANONYMOUS (26-11-4-2) – Consistent off-the pace sprinter, winner of two graded stakes in a row. He gets a nice 5 week rest from his trainer, working great during the mornings and his presence will be felt in the stretch. Mayor Player here.
5. BFIFTYTWO (19-7-3-2) – This one is a mile specialist who takes a cut in distance. If he feels fit enough, he can dominate in the last jumps. For the price, I will pass.
6. HENNESSY TITANS (9-5-0-1) – Interesting horse who gets a very juicy 19/1 morning line assigned. He is a stalker and although his graded efforts have been discreet so far, he is a fresh colt, with room for improvement.
7. BIG MAN’S BRIDGE (29-12-4-1) – He returned to races from a three month hiatus in his last race and came with a flourish to just miss in a listed stakes. That race should have served him as a nice bolt tightener and in my opinion is the horse to beat here.
8. PRIMETIME EMBLEM (33-10-5-4) – Grade III winner last year, but then has not been able to compete against the best older sprinters. His last race was encouraging, he needs to step up some more to have a chance here.
9. PRINCE RAHY (26-5-5-5) – His best races have come so far in distances of 6.5 furlongs or beyond. He is a listed stakes winner, but is hard to recommend in this short distance.
10. KILLICK (25-8-4-4) – He can be what we call the “speed of the speed” in this race. Over the last twelve months, he has responded beautifully with 5 of his 8 lifetime wins, and at 10/1 is a very interesting prospect.
11. BIANCONI MAMBO (30-13-5-5) – His 2004 form has him winning this race easily, but two years have gone by and this is not the same colt. Over the last months he has come thru in listed stakes, but this company can be tough for him in this stage of his career. Only for the respect gained in his illustrious career, can not totally overlook.
12. SANTO PECADO (25-6-6-2) – This is a good horse, but when he has competed in graded stakes, has faltered every time. Again, will be a longshot and is hard to make a case for him.
13. DR.NO (39-10-6-3) – Allowance horse entering his first stakes race in two years. For the moment I will look elsewhere, he has to show he belongs here.
14. PURSUER T (38-10-8-5) – He should be part of the early battle for the lead, draws the nice outside post, but has been way overmatched in graded stakes so far. Can not recommend.

The race should be a nice one to enjoy, if you will bet, my favorite is Big Man’s Dream, with Killick as a close second choice, looking for a hefty exacta for the weekend. The luke warm favorite Skanonymous is a threat here also, and you can include Henessy Titans as a big longshot.

Good Luck to all!!