Sandbar Game in Maryland Sprint Handicap Win
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Sandbar, claimed last fall by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, and jockey Joel Rosario wore down pacesetter Happy My Way for a game victory in the Maryland Sprint Handicap (gr. III) at Pimlico Race Course May 16 .
The Sprint was one of four graded stakes that were part of an eight stakes Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes (gr. I) card.
Happy My Way, the defending Maryland Sprint champion sent off as 2-1 second choice with jockey Joe Bravo, had problems securing the lead, but covered the first quarter-mile in :23.14 and the opening half-mile in :45.35, with Sandbar in close pursuit as they rounded the turn in the six-furlong test on a fast main track.
In the stretch, Sandbar wore down Happy My Way under a hand ride to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:09.81. The track record of 1:09 was set by Northern Wolf in 1990.
Trained by Joe Sharp, Sandbar paid $10.80, $6.40, and $3.80. Service for Ten, ridden by Julian Pimentel, closed along the rail to pass Happy My Way late to pay $10.80 and $5. It was a head back to Happy My Way, who returned $3.
Coup de Grace, the 2-1 favorite, finished fifth, behind Souper Knight and ahead of Warrioroftheroses, Jack's in the Deck, and Picko's Pride.
"Joel did an outstanding job," Sharp said. "The horse is very flexible. He took advantage of a slow pace and kept him close. We won the dogfight down the lane. Mr. Ramsey and I claimed the horse last fall. They can get good and progress steadily and he has. We've believed in him all along."
The victory was the first in stakes company for Sandbar, who has won five of 19 starts and earned $230,869. Previous to the Maryland Sprint, the 4-year-old gelded son of War Chant was second and third in allowance company.
Out of the Vicar mare Summer Cruise, Sandbar was bred in Kentucky by William S. Farish and Gasparilla Stable. Previously trained by Neil Howard for his breeders, Sandbar was claimed by the Ramseys for $30,000 last Sept. 14 at Churchill Downs and turned over to Sharp.