Guys Reward captures Firecracker

Guys Reward gave Romans and Lanerie one final stakes win to cap off the spring meet (Jamie Newell/Horsephotos.com) Michael J. Bruder’s Guys Reward wrapped up a stellar spring meet under the Twin Spires for trainer Dale Romans and jockey Corey Lanerie, capping off the duo’s meet leading titles with a two-length victory in Churchill Downs’ closing day feature, the Grade 2, $165,900 Firecracker Handicap. Mother Nature unleashed some fireworks of her own Sunday night, as the 5TH race was delayed when a powerful thunderstorm roared through the area bringing heavy rain, wind and lightning. The Firecracker two races later stayed on the turf, though the course condition was downgraded to good, but that didn’t stop Guys Reward from powering home in the lane. Night Party set the pace in the one-mile contest, recording splits of :24 4/5, :50 and 1:14 4/5 heading into the stretch. Lanerie kept Guys Reward about three wide while running in third on the backstretch before the pair slingshotted around the turn. Guys Reward came motoring down the center of the course, digging deep in the final yards to pull off and stop the clock in 1:38 2/5.

Guys Reward paid $9 and $4.60 as the 7-2 third choice after show wagering was
canceled. Seruni, who chased in second throughout, filled that spot on the wire
when a half-length in front of third-placer Night Party. Turallure, the 3-5
favorite, found himself boxed in rounding the turn and was forced to steady
under jockey Julien Leparoux. The Grade 1-winning gray angled out once clear,
but had too much ground to make up and was forced to settle for fourth, one
length in front of trailer Silver Rock. Mandurah was withdrawn.

Guys Reward just earned his first stakes victory when taking the Opening
Verse Stakes on June 9 at Churchill. The dark bay son of Grand Reward has placed
six times against black-type competition, with five of those coming in graded
contests. This first graded win boosted his career earnings to $516,155 and the
five-year-old’s scorecard now stands at 34-7-5-9.

Bred in Kentucky by Haymarket Farm, Guys Reward didn’t meet his reserve both
times he passed through the sales ring — he drew a bid of $14,000 as a
Keeneland November weanling, and attracted a $27,000 offer as a Keeneland
September yearling.

Guys Reward is out of the Mr. Greeley mare Beach View, meaning his fourth dam
is the Grade 3-winning Roberto mare Immense. That one would go on in the
breeding shed to produce multiple Grade 2 heroine Mariah’s Storm, who is best
known as the dam of top sire and multiple highweight Giant’s Causeway. Immense
is also a half-sister to champion Dearly Precious.

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