Gr.1 Middle Jewel

Maryland(MD)

Grade 1

$3,000,000

Restricted to 3 year olds

9.5 Furlongs/ 1900 Meters/ One Mile and Three Sixteenths

Dirt

Baltimore’s Pimlico racecourse, site of the Middle Jewel Stakes,the second race in horse racing’s Triple Crown. There is a very high level of anticipation. Anticipation prompted by Drengiligr’s stirring win in the Bluegrass Derby. The steel gray colt had a perfect trip under Jockey Q Cassell giving his trainer Pointgiven his first Derby victory and the Garland of Roses. A full field of 14 has lined up to deny Drengiligr’s quest for immortality and Triple Crown glory ,headed by the Kentucky Oaks winner Where’s My Heels who will try to take her own place in the history books. Olympic Curlin, Practical Justice, Honorable Soldier, and Rock Mines wheel back from the Derby hoping to turn the tables as well as a group of “new shooters” who all look to play spoiler.

1.Rock Mines

Owner: Bamafarms1

Jockey: N. Gunn

Odds: 12/1

Grade 1 winning millionaire by Mineshaft has a career record of 2 wins, 1 second, and 1 third in 7 starts. Won at first asking, breaking his maiden against winners in an allowance 2L. Jumped right into graded stakes company finishing 2nd in the Gr.2 Future Stakes before an off the board finish in the Gr.3 Happytime stakes to end his 2 year old campaign. Was a badly beaten 12th in the Gr.2 Swale Stakes in his 3 year old campaign before stretching out around two turns for the first time and running 3rd in the Gr.3 Buccaneer Derby. Took down the Gr.1 Wooden Indian-Derby Lock Stakes earning a 107 speed figure and spot in the Bluegrass Derby. Finished an even 9th beaten 7+ lengths in the Derby after stalking the pace. Looks to rebound here.

2.Sicky Looky

Owner: Amire1655

Jockey: M. Chreky

Odds:13/1

Consistent gelded son of Lookin At Lucky has hit the board in 10 of 12 career races with a record of 4 wins, 4 seconds, and 2 thirds with earnings of over $450,000. Broke his maiden in a hot race at first asking and then went on to finish 2nd in his next 3 races, two 2L allowance races and a listed stakes race. Jumped up into Gr.1 company and finished 5th of 14, beaten 3 3/4 lengths in the Gr.1 Happy Independnce Day. Won two listed stakes and finished 3rd in another before concluding his 2 year old season in the Gr.3 Happytime Stakes, finishing 9th but only beaten 1 1/2. Finished 3rd in his 3 year old debut and first start around two turns in the Gr.3 The Good Cow. Came back next out and scored for his first graded stakes win, taking the Gr.3 Rebel Yell on the front end. Held on for 3rd in the Gr.1 Wooden Indian-Derby Lock Prep last out after setting the pace. Speed is always dangerous

3. Shadowroads

Owner: Icbomber6

Jockey: E.Cerda

Odds:10/1

Talented colt by Quality Road has been either 1st or 2nd in 5 of 6 career starts with a record of 3 wins and 2 seconds. Broke his maiden at first asking, winning a 8f allowance race against winners. Continued to alternate wins in ever other start, just missing in a 3L allowance before coming back and winning a 2L in his next. Ran 4th in his stakes debut, a listed event going 8.5f, the only off the board finish in his career. Won an allowance at the Middle Jewel distance of 9.5f and came back next out to finish 2nd in the Gr.1 All Sinners Derby also at 9.5f. Makes third start in a row going 9.5f.

4.Practical Justice

Owner: Thethumb19

Jockey: L. Radzinski

Odds:8/1

Millionaire colt by Practical Joke has a record of 2 wins, 2 seconds, and 3 thirds in 8 career starts. Precocious start to his career, breaking his maiden against winners in an open allowance in his career debut and coupled that effort with a win in a 2L allowance race. Ran off the board for the first and only time in his career with a 7th place in his graded stakes debut, the Gr.1 Sparkling Wine Stakes. Came back to run well in his next two, a 2nd in the Gr.2 Club Stakes and 3rd in the Gr.1 Happy New Year to close out his 2 year old season. Was 3rd in a listed stakes in his 3 year old debut and 2nd in the Corkscrew Stakes -Derby Lock Prep. Ran an excellent race to finish 3rd in the Bluegrass Derby. Still seeking his first stakes win, but has run well to hit the board in all but 1 race in stakes events.

5.The Dragonfly

Owner: Givenafterdark

Jockey: Z.Edwards

Odds:11/1

Improving gelded son of More Than Ready has a record of 3 wins and 3 seconds in route races but has never won in 4 starts on the dirt. Winless in his first 3 starts, only hitting the board in his career debut, a 3rd in a hot race maiden allowance. Was gelded after his third start and turned things around winning his next three starts, breaking his maiden, taking a 2L allowance, and then breaking through in his stakes debut; all on turf. He then went on to run 2nd in his next three starts, listed stakes on both turf and dirt and then a closing 2nd in the Gr.1 California Derby-Derby Lock Prep. Seeks first main track victory in the Middle Jewel. Speed figures have increases in every race

6.Olympic Curlin

Owner: Rubber5

Jockey: E. Banner.

Odds:11/1

Striking gelded son of Curlin has a record of 4 wins, 1 second, and 2 thirds in 10 career starts with earnings of over $1.2 million. Broke his maiden in his second try before coupling that effort with a win in his stakes debut, a listed 6.5f stakes race. His next 7 races would come in Gr.1 company with wins at age 2 in the Gr.1 Hopeless and at 3 in the Gr.1 All Saints Derby-Derby Lock Prep with a total record of 2 wins, and 2 thirds in 7 Gr.1 starts. Wheels back in two weeks after a 7th beaten 6 lengths in the Bluegrass Derby. Very classy and talented runner will try to rebound and play spoiler here.

7. Honorable Soldier

Owner: Squity

Jockey: V.Jennings

Odds:7/1

Front running son of Soldier Hollow has a record of 5 wins and 4 thirds in 11 career starts for career earnings of over $1.1 million dollars. Broke his maiden at second asking before running third in a pair of 2L allowance races. Broke through the 2L level in his 4th start and then stretched out around two turns for the first time and ran third in his final race at 2. Cut back and won a 6f sprint in his 3 year old debut and then stepped up into graded company finishing 5th in the Gr.3 Dubai 2000 Guineas in his stakes debut. Came back next time to take a listed stakes before winning the Gr.1 Arkansas Juvenile- Derby Lock Prep going wire to wire. Set the pace in the Bluegrass Derby and faded late to finish 5th, 4 3/4 lengths behind the winner. Looks to take them all the way here.

8. Doggystylin

Owner: Beerkeg5

Jockey: R. Hansen

Odds:12/1

Gritty gelded son of Tapit has a career record of 2 wins, 3 seconds, and 1 third in 10 career starts amassing earnings of over $450,000 in his career. Broke his maiden in his fourth attempt and first start around two turns taking down an open allowance race against winners. Coupled that victory with a win in a 2L allowance in his next start. Off the board in a listed stakes to end his 2 year old season. Ran in 4 stakes races as a 3 year old running off the board in a listed stake and the Gr.3 Risen Star Stakes bookended by a 2nd in a listed stakes to start the year and a 2nd in the Gr.2 Arkansas Juvenile-Derby Lock Prep last out. Seeks his first stakes win here in the Middle Jewel.

9.Where’s My Heels

Owner: Xraycash

Jockey: K.Ledwith

Odds:9/1

Kentucky Oaks winning 3 year old filly by Ghostzapper has a record of 5 wins, 2 seconds, and 1 third in 9 career starts with earnings of over $1.1 million dollars. Broke her maiden in her third try and then climbed the allowance ranks winning a 2L and 3L allowance as part of a 3 race win streak to close out her 2 year old season. Started off her 3 year old campaign with a 2nd place finish in allowance company going 10f against older fillies and mares. Returned to face 3 year olds in her next, earning her first stakes victory with a score in a 9f listed stakes race. Was beaten a head in her graded stakes debut, finishing 2nd in the Gr.2 Mellow Breeze Handicap. Won the Kentucky Oaks by 1 3/4 lengths coming from mid pack in a field of 20 and earning a 110 speed rating for the win. Rare Derby vs Oaks winner battle of the sexes here in the Middle Jewel

10.Drowned and Reborn

Owner: Given23

Jockey: O A Haack

Odds:10/1

Talented colt by Into Mischief has won 6 of 12 in his career with earnings of over $700,000. Broke his maiden in a hot race at first asking and won an allowance 2L in his 3rd try, with a 2nd at the same level sandwiched between wins. Off the board in the Gr.1 Happy Easter in his stakes debut. Came back to win a pair of stakes in his next two starts, a listed event and the Gr.2 The Stanford for his first graded score. Off the board in next two, both Gr.1 races the Sparkling Wine and Breeders Bowl Juvenile Dirt Sprint. Took a listed stake in his final start at 2. Off the board in the Gr.2 Swale in his 3 year old debut. Stretched out around two turns for the first time and won the Gr.2 Felipe Alou Stakes then finished 2nd in the Gr.2 Heat Less. New shooter has performed well since stretching out and has class to be in the mix

11.Gunquist

Owner: Tombstone

Jockey: F. Gossett

Odds:8/1

Speedy colt by Gun Runner has never been off the board in 7 starts with a record of 4 wins, 2 seconds, and 1 third with career earnings of nearly $275,000. Started his career in ESR residency restricted races breaking his maiden in his second try and running 2nd in a residency stakes race. Climbed up the allowance ranks winning a 2L and 3L allowance in his next two to start his 3 year old campaign. Tested graded company for the first time and hung on for 3rd after setting the pace in the Gr.1 Green Mountain Park Derby. Came back last time out and won the Gr.3 The Grunt going wire to wire. All of his wins have come on the front end and will look to steal this race.

12.Quality Fast Slew

Owner: Crash8

Jockey: C.Gerhke

Odds:10/1

Well bred gelding by Quality Road has a record of 4 wins, 2 seconds, and a third in 10 starts with career earnings of over $400,000. Broke his maiden at second asking before finishing 3rd in his stakes debut in a listed stakes in his third start. Was off the board next out in his graded debut finishing 8th in the Gr.2 Hoserhead Juvenile. Stretched out for the first time around two turns and won a 2L allowance and then came back to run 2nd in a listed stakes going 8.5f. Was gelded following this race and then came back with a win in a stakes to close out his season. Was off the board in the Gr.1 Vermont Is 4 Lovers in his 3 year old debut before winning the Gr.2 Land’s End, the first graded stakes win of his career. Ran off the board in the Gr.1 Corkscrew Stakes last out. Must show improvement at Gr.1 level.

13.Drengiligr

Owner: Givenstamina

Jockey: Q. Cassell

Odds:9/1

Flashy gray son of Tapit is your Bluegrass Derby winner who will be attempting to take down the Middle Jewel in his bid for a Triple Crown and a chance at immortality. Multiple Gr.1 winner of over $4 million dollars, he has an excellent career record of 6 wins, 1 second and 1 third in 9 starts. Started his career on a 3 race win streak culminating with a score in a listed 6f stake in his stakes debut. Ran a solid 4th of 14 in his graded debut, the Gr.1 Happy Independence Day. Broke through at the graded level in his next start, winning the Gr.3 Buckeye Juvenile by a narrow 1/4 length. Was a solid 3rd of 14 in the Gr.1 Breeders Bowl Juvenile before closing out his 2 year old season with his first win at the Gr.1, The Happy New Year, earning a career high 106 speed rating. In his 3 year old debut he ran a close second in the Gr.1 Vermont Is 4 Lovers, his only prep before his Bluegrass Derby run. Came back in the Bluegrass Derby and vanquished the field of 20 by a convincing 2 3/4 lengths, earning him a 105 speed rating. Will try to keep his Triple Crown dream alive.

14.Front Seeking Colt

Owner: Dkstables25

Jockey: T.Small

Odds:16/

Lightly raced gray colt by War Front has never been off the board in his career with a record of 2 wins,2 seconds, and 2 thirds in 6 starts. Broke his maiden at first asking and won a 2L allowance two starts later with a 3rd place allowance finish sandwiched between wins. Stretched out around two turns and stepped into stakes company finishing 2nd in a 8f listed stakes in his final start at 2. Debuted as a 3 year old with a closing 3rd in the Gr.3 Giant Slayer Classic, his first start in graded company. Came from well of the pace again to finish 2nd in the Gr.1 Wooden Indian-Derby Lock Prep. Lightly raced with room to improve.