Green Mask Makes the Grade in Turf Sprint

Narrowly denied a graded win last time out, Sheikh Abdullah Saeed Almaddah's Green Mask flew by frontrunner Latent Revenge in the stretch to win the $150,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Presented by TwinSpires.com (G3T). 

"Javier (Castellano) did exactly what he was supposed to do—sitting on the outside and let the speed get away," winning trainer Brad Cox said. "He let him settle in mid-pack sitting off the pacesetters, which was probably a good thing being on the outside today with the turf draining down to the inside.

"This is the first time we've run him at five-eighths of a mile. It didn't seem to bother him at all. He took to it. The horse responded with a big effort," Cox said, adding that he's looking for another one-turn turf sprint for Green Mask's next race. 

Traveling five furlongs May 5 on Churchill Downs turf rated good, Latent Revenge took the lead as Tell All You Know raced in second. Favorite Pure Sensation, making his first start since running third in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T), tracked in third and Green Mask and Castellano raced in fourth. 

Latent Revenge took the 10-horse field through fractions of :22.69 and 46.29 for a half-mile. Into the stretch, the frontrunner still had the advantage but Castellano moved Green Mask wide into the seven path and pushed him forward under a hand ride. The 7-year-old gelding responded and was able to fly past Latent Revenge and hit the wire two lengths ahead. The final time was :58.02.

"I was outside the whole way," Castellano said. "He handled the turf really well. He was nice and smooth; put me in a good spot. I never rode the horse before, I just followed the instructions very carefully. (Brad Cox) told me he was the kind of horse where you have to wait until the last moment. At about the eighth pole, I saw the horse in the lead and I thought, 'I'm riding too patient, I have to go.' But I timed it right."

Latent Revenge held on for second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Why Two, who closed from seventh to get third. Pure Sensation finished another 1 3/4 lengths back in fourth. 

Wilbo, Holding Gold, Partly Mocha, Derek's Smile, Expected Ruler, and Tell All You Know completed the order of finish. 

Sent off as the second choice, Green Mask returned $8.60, $5.20, and $4. 

Bred by D. J. Stable in Kentucky, the son of Mizzen Mast was last purchased at the 2013 Ocala Breeders' Sales' spring 2-year-olds in training sale by his owner for $150,000. 

Green Mask's score is his first graded win in 24 total starts, although he is twice grade 1 placed. Last out, he ran second to Holding Gold by a neck in the Shakertown Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland April 8. The newly minted graded stakes winner now boasts a record of 6-7-3, with earnings of $739,066.