Full Mast Back to Sprinting in Nearctic

After racing well but failing to register a win in three turf races of one mile or longer, group III-winner Full Mast will return to sprinting Sunday, Oct. 16 in the $300,000 Nearctic Stakes (Can-IIIT) at Woodbine.

Juddmonte Farms homebred Full Mast was competitive in the Woodbine Mile (Can-IT) Sept. 17, finishing fourth and just 1 1/2 lengths behind U.S. champion turf female Tepin. That followed a close third in the Fasig-Tipton Lure Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the Saratoga Race Course turf and a fourth-place finish in the King Edward Stakes (Can-IIT) in July on the Woodbine turf.

While the Kentucky-bred showed promise for trainer Bill Mott in those races, Full Mast has been more accomplished at shorter distances. He won his North American debut in June going seven furlongs in an allowance-optional claiming race on the Belmont turf.

Racing in France in 2014 and 2015, the son of Mizzen Mast   earned a group III win and a group I placing while sprinting seven furlongs in each. Full Mast won his career debut in 2014 going 6 1/2 furlongs at Deauville.

Jockey Joel Rosario, who has been aboard for three of Full Mast's four U.S. starts including his seven-furlong victory at Belmont, will ride when Full Mast breaks from post two Sunday.

Some accomplished sprinters await in the Nearctic as Mohammed Al Qatami and Khalid Al Mudhaf's Divine, who will start from the inside post in the expected field of eight, will be making her North American debut. In June the 5-year-old daughter of Dark Angel won a group III going six furlongs at the Curragh.

Benjamin Hutzel homebred Passion for Action also gave the Woodbine Mile a try, finishing eighth, but will return to the distance and course where the 4-year-old Ontario-bred Speightstown   colt registered a narrow victory in July in the Highlander Stakes (Can-IIT). Passion for Action has three stakes wins sprinting at Woodbine this season, the other two coming on the all-weather track.

Conquest Stables' Conquest Enforcer also will try for a fourth stakes win this season and enters off a clear victory in the Allied Forces Stakes going six furlongs on the Belmont inner turf Sept. 11 for trainer Mark Casse. Javier Castellano, who guided the 3-year-old Into Mischief   colt in his previous start, will be aboard Sunday.