Bluegrass Sprint
| Bluegrass Sprint Grade II / Group 2*CPU – Purse: $375,000 | |
| Restricted to 4 Year Olds and Older | |
| 7 Furlongs | ~1400 Meters | Seven Eighths of a Mile Fast Dirt |
An impressive field of 13 runners assembles at Kentucky on Friday for the G2 Bluegrass Sprint over 7 furlongs on the dirt track. This race boasts 4 grade 2 winners and all starters have registered a stakes or graded victory. Only Jimmy Conners returns from last year’s edition of this race. Interesting sidenote is that 9 of the 13 runners were bred here in Kentucky.
1. DOLLAR DAWG KY 4M boilerdave D.Givins 16/1
Dollar Dawg’s (American Pharoah) 4yo season has yielded two 9th place finishes in the G1 Cocked and Loaded Stakes and the G2 Trotter Stakes. Undoubtedly his best career performance came almost a year ago when saluting in the last stride to take out the G2 Aventura Stakes. This colt won 4 of his first 5 starts for trainer boilerdave (Dochman) but has won just 2 of 12 since. Breaking from the inside gate, trainer gets the benefits of the top local jockey D.Givins. Should get a nice run just in behind the pace and appears to relish the 7f but would probably need a career best here to figure in the finish.
2. JIMMY CONNERS JPN 5G alibilane2 O.A.Haack 16/1
Jimmy Conners (Nadal) is the sole runner returning from last year’s edition of this race. Was a long price that day and ran up to its odds. Trainer Alibilane has elected to sparingly race him since with just the 3 starts in the past 12 months. Last win was in January 2025 when winning the G3 The Minister’s Deputy in Florida. 3 runs at this level (G2) don’t provide much confidence that he has the speed or stamina to go on a legendary run like his namesake did when marching all the way to the US Open semi-finals in 1991. O.A.Haack jets in from Florida to take the ride is a plus but Jimmy will need to go to another level to hit the board here.
3. READY TO RALLY IRE 5M ddkstables K.Ledwith 8/1
Ready to Rally (No Nay Never) finally got his deserved solitary graded win in the UAE’s G3 Supernatural Stakes last August. Subsequently, recorded a 113 SP when closing late to finish 3rd in the Foregone (G1) in NY. Trainer ddkstables (Stockswami) has kept Ready to Rally fresh for this with a 3 ½ month layoff after 2 below par performances at this level. Prior to that, his worst finish was 4th with a string of 2nd and 3rd placed finishes in graded races. Back up to 7F on the dirt is a plus. Top JPN jock K.Ledwith takes the ride which is another plus. Should get a cosy trip just in behind the speed and if he can regain his confidence from his form prior to his last 2 starts, is a definite player.
4. WOETTE’S SEA TIZZY KY 6M woette5 J.Sands 7/2
Woette’s Sea Tizzy (Tiz the Law) comes here as the most experienced horse in the field with 32 starts and an impressive 11 wins. 2 starts at G2 level have yielded a 2nd and 3rd placed finish. Can be forgiving of his only start in G1 company finishing midfield over 6f, short of his preferred 7f. Trainer Woette is still wondering how he hasn’t got a graded win badge next to his name. Recorded a 118 SP over this distance and track last October when easily winning an ALW. Last 2 starts in stakes company came from just off the pace to record impressive victories. Is unbeaten in his last 4 starts and comes here as a deserved 7/2 favorite. J.Sands should position this 6yo just off the speed and if he runs up to past performances, will be thundering home for a well deserved graded victory.
5. INSANE FREAK TRAIN KY 4M phantom2 W.Kewmwa 13/1
Inside Freak Train (Cody’s Wish) for trainer phantom2 (Punter34) has really matured over the past 12 months and comes into this with a close-up 4th placed finish in the G2 Trotter Stakes in NY. Recorded 4 consecutive wins mid-late 2025 including the G3 Young Miners Stakes in WY. Out of the G1 winning mare Stormy Lyric, Insane Freak Train will race on or near the lead and will need to soak up the early pressure from Hot Jalapeno. AZ jock W.Kewmwa reunites with this 4yo having ridden him previously in multiple G1 starts. Should be thereabouts when the whips are cracking.
6. RACE TO THE ROAD KY 4M milkshaker J.Caves 19/1
Race to the Road (Quality Road) heads into this race for milkshaker (desperado) stables after a very impressive career best SP of 111 when saluting in the Looking For More Dirt Dash over 6.5f at this track some 8 weeks ago. That day he was 12/1. Similar price today albeit G2 class for the first time. Has made steady improvement over the last few months and should be a regular at this level moving forward. Should settle a little worse than midfield for jock A.Darling and if can reproduce last time out’s finishing burst, can figure in the placings.
7. MANDFORD KY 4G alibilane2 J.Caves 19/1
Mandford (Nashville) returns to graded company off the back of 2 ALW races. Dual acceptor for Alibilane’s stables, Mandford is a gelding who impressively took out CA’s The Saint Vincent in February 2025. Sadly. that was his last win although has had some above par performances since, most notably a close-up 2nd in the Select Bud over this course and distance last October. He then went to the west coast finishing down the track in the BB sprint. It’s hard to get enthused with Mandford’s 2 starts in 2026 but returning to graded racing where he has been for most of his career might bring out his best form. Will need to a career best with local jock J.Caves aboard.
8. BOUND TO BLAME ME KY 4M borrowed9 N.Labreche 11/1
Bound to Blame Me (Blame) had an impressive 3yo season running in some of our most prestigious races. A win in the G2 Fountain of Ute followed by a 2nd placed finish in the G1 Florida Derby. Then made steady ground in the straight to finish a stylish 6th at healthy odds in the Bluegrass Derby. Another 2nd in the 3rd leg of the triple crown, The New Yorker followed by a 5th in the Travelers and a 13th in the BB Dirt Mile. His final run as a 3yo yielded a win in an ALW race over 10f. Bound to Blame Me has earnt a staggering $1.67million from his 15 starts albeit with just the 1 graded victory. Trainer borrowed9 (Tenpoint) has surprisingly elected to drop this horse back to the sprint distance after finishing back in the field in the UAE Sand Castle Classic when last facing the starter. Despite 2 wins from 3 over the short course, they were as a 2yo. N.Labreche jets in from Europe to ride. Will be a late closer but likely to find some of these too speedy over the sprint journey.
9. HAVE THE AUDACITY AUS 6M ebro M.Isdell 7/1
Have the Audacity (Street Boss) is the sole Australian bred in the field and the 2nd most experienced with starts, wins and prizemoney. Multiple graded victories in mid-2024 when first home in the G3 MD Breeders Bowl and the G2 The Foolish Tom. The latter a career best SP of 115. Has only won once in his last 12 starts but almost half those runs have been at the elite level. Last start was his first for 2026 in which he closed late to just miss in the Swift Allen Dirt Dash over 5.5f at this track. That was a good prep for this and now steps up to what is arguably his favorite distance. Looks to crack the $1million barrier with a win here. Equal 2nd on the ML, trainer ebro (spinround) is confident she has Have the Audacity primed for this with VA jock M.Isdell flying in to ride.
10. DISTORTED FLIGHT KY 4M ladyracer M.Snider 13/1
Distorted Flight (Flightline) is a progressive 4yo who got his first graded victory at his first try in the G3 Simpson Franklin Stakes on the turf last September. Last start went to G2 level for the first time and raced in a similar position throughout finishing 6th beaten 3 ¾ lengths. All 19 starts for this 4yo have been at his home track in Kentucky with trainer Ladyracer only mixing up the surfaces he runs on. Has been slightly more impressive on the turf in terms of results and SP’s but has a stakes victory and a placing on the dirt. Will stalk the pace and look to make his presence felt in the stretch. M.Snider makes the trip down from IA to take the ride.
11. NO NAY NIGHT SCAT IRE 6M dkstables14 F.Gossett 7/1
No Nay Night Scat (No Nay Never) is a lightly raced 6yo and a dual acceptor for trainer dkstables (Stockswami). He has chalked up 7 wins from 23 starts. Has done his best racing over the slightly shorter journey. His first and only start in 2026 came in the G2 Ivan Yamil Handicap in January where he came from the back to close rapidly finishing in 5th but beaten just 1 ½ lengths from the winner. No Nay Night Scat finished last season with a 3rd and a 2nd in graded company. Last win was an August stakes race in IA over his pet distance of 6f. F.Gossett comes here from the West Coast to ride with an impressive 25.7% winning strike rate. Equal 2nd favorite on the ML and kept fresh for this. Definite each way claims.
12. MO’S HOPE KY 5M littlefrog J.Wilson 7/1
The impeccably bred Mo’s Hope (Uncle Mo) is 1 of only 2 scratchbreds in today’s field. Is more than capable of matching it here but has been inconsistent to say the least. Multiple stakes wins in 2023-2024 including this track over the mile. Last start was just ok when midfield in the G2 Curious George. Before that, just missed in Florida’s G3 Kenny Joe Stakes when running an SP of 114. Trainer littlefrog (USCSteve) feels this horse is deserving of a graded victory and is hoping Mo’s Hope turns up today and produces his best. Jock J.Wilson flies in from Europe to take the mount. Has the ability to take this out if he’s on his a-game.
13. HOT JALAPENO KY 4M rodpiper H.Harzheim 10/1
Hot Jalapeno (Union Rags) is the likely leader here. Went wire to wire at his most recent start over the 7f dirt course in the WV Alypigeon Dirt Memorial. Also ran his best SP of 116. Trainer rodpiper (kashbarn) must be ecstatic at his horse’s continued improvement with maturity. Over his past 10 starts, all in stakes grade, this horse has never finished further back to 1 ¾ lengths from the winner at 5-7f. His only failure was when pushed out to 7.5f. Ultra consistent 4yo who is only getting better with racing. Has an abundance of early speed and will look to cross over from the outside gate. Early pressure will be key to his chances. If he has a soft lead, will take a power of beating.
Speed Map:
Frontrunners: 2,5,13
Mid: 1,3,4,6,10,12
Backmarkers: 7,8,9,11
Veeman picks
1st – #4 Woette’s Sea Tizzy (7/2)
2nd– #13 Hot Jalapeno (10/1)
3rd– #9 Have The Audacity (7/1)
Best Longshot: #6 Race To The Road (19/1)