Holding Gold Seeks Second Graded Win in Turf Sprint

Live Oak Plantation's homebred Holding Gold looks to score another graded win in the $150,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T), but he'll face some familiar competition in the five-furlong turf test May 5 at Churchill Downs. 

The Mark Casse-trained son of Lonhro won the April 8 Shakertown Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland last out by a neck over fellow Turf Sprint entrant Green Mask, earning his first graded stakes wins. That April 8 race was Holding Gold's 4-year-old season debut and first start since running off the board in the Woodford Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G3T) in October.

The colt will carry the high weight of 125 pounds and will break from post 3 under jockey Joel Rosario. 

Abdullah Saeed Almaddah's Green Mask, a 6-year-old gelded son of Mizzen Mast  , has two close runner-up efforts this year. In addition to the Shakertown, the Brad Cox trainee finished one length behind Hogy in the Colonel Power Overnight Stakes in February at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. In his past eight tries, the gelding has only finished off the board once. Although jockey Robby Albarado has been aboard for his past three starts, Javier Castellano picks up the mount May 5 for the injured Albarado.

Making his first start since running third in the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) is the Christophe Clement-trained Pure Sensation. Before finishing one length behind winner Obviously in the Breeders' Cup, Patricia A. Generazio's runner won three stakes in a row last year, including the Parx Dash Stakes and the Jaipur Invitational Stakes (both G3T). He is the morning-line favorite at 5-2.

The Turf Sprint field of 13 also includes Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Partly Mocha, fourth in the Shakertown and winner of two five-furlong turf stakes at Sam Houston Race Park earlier this year. The 8-year-old Half Ours gelding is trained by Mike Maker and makes the second graded attempt of his 37-race career in the Turf Sprint. 

Looking to break through in graded stakes company with his first attempt on the turf is the grade 2 placed Maniacal, bred, owned, and trained by Wesley Ward. The 4-year-old son of Kitten's Joy   was third last out in a six-furlong allowance event on the dirt at Keeneland April 8. One start prior, Maniacal was a 1 3/4-length runner-up to eventual grade 1 winner Mind Your Biscuits in the Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course last August. 

Also entered are stakes winners Derek's Smile, Why Two, Expected Ruler, Latent Revenge, and Tell All You Know. 

George Hall's 3-year-old Derek's Smile has won three of his four starts, including the five-furlong Texas Glitter Stakes at Gulfstream Park in February. 

Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. Presented by Twinspires.com (G3T)

Churchill Downs, Friday, May 05, 2017, Race 7

• 5f
• Turf
• $150,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 2:00 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Wilbo (KY)	Joe Bravo	120	Chris A. Hartman	20/1
2	2Platinum Prince (FL)	Joseph Rocco, Jr.	120	Michael A. Tomlinson	20/1
3	3Holding Gold (FL)	Joel Rosario	125	Mark E. Casse	4/1
4	4Why Two (KY)	Flavien Prat	120	Michael Machowsky	5/1
5	5Maniacal (KY)	David Romero Flores	120	Wesley A. Ward	12/1
6	6Expected Ruler (FL)	Didiel A. Osorio	120	Liam Daniel Benson	30/1
7	7Derek's Smile (KY)	Paco Lopez	117	Kelly J. Breen	30/1
8	8Pure Sensation (FL)	Jose L. Ortiz	120	Christophe Clement	5/2
9	9Partly Mocha (WV)	Julien R. Leparoux	122	Michael J. Maker	15/1
10	10Black Bear (KY)	Calvin H. Borel	120	Randy L. Morse	20/1
11	11Latent Revenge (KY)	Rafael Bejarano	120	Gregory D. Foley	15/1
12	12Green Mask (KY)	Javier Castellano	120	Brad H. Cox	3/1
13	13Tell All You Know (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	120	Kellyn Gorder	30/1