Happy My Way goes for title defense in Maryland Sprint

Happy My Way was untouchable in the 2014 Maryland Sprint (Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos) Winless in five starts since winning on the Preakness (G1) undercard last season, Happy My Way (Wilko) hopes to reverse that streak of bad luck Saturday when he defends his title in the $100,000 Maryland Sprint H. (G3) over six furlongs. The victor by 5 3/4 lengths over four rivals last term, Happy My Way faces seven others this time. The five-year-old gelding has placed in four of his five subsequent defeats, including second-place efforts in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G1), Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash, and Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3) last time. Coup de Grace (Tapit), winner of the Bay Shore (G3) and Amsterdam (G2) at three last season, was third in a stakes-quality allowance at Fair Grounds in his season debut for trainer Larry Jones. The March 20 dash has been his only outing since September.

Other leading contenders are the Grade 3-placed Picko’s Pride (Cactus Ridge)
and Souper Knight (Midnight Lute), and 2014 Maryland Sprint third-place finisher
Service For Ten (Service Stripe).

Grand Bili (City Zip), whose connections flirted with a moonshot bid at the
Preakness this week, is one of 11 three-year-olds entered in the $100,000
Chick Lang,
also at six furlongs. The gray colt won his debut and finished second against
allowance foes at Gulfstream earlier this year.

Expected to attract more pari-mutuel support are the Bob Baffert-trained
stakes winner Gimme Da Lute (Midnight Lute), third in the Pat Day Mile (G3) two
weeks ago; Bachelor S. winner Holy Boss (Street Boss); Blame Jim (Sharp Humor),
a sharp Parx allowance winner for Todd Pletcher last time; and Victory Is Sweet
(Congrats), who broke his maiden by eight lengths at Aqueduct in swift time of
1:09 3/5.

Also of interest are Jimmy Winkfield S. winner Ackeret (Mach Ride), William
Walker S. runner-up Senor Grits (Elusive Quality), and Grade 2-place
Hebbronville (Majesticperfection).

The $100,000
Sir Barton,
for non-stakes winning three-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, features Donworth
(Tiznow) and Fame and Power (First Defence), second and third behind Preakness
contender Divining Rod (Tapit) in last month’s Lexington (G3) at Keeneland.

Other contenders in the field of nine include Bold Conquest (Curlin), who has
placed in three of five graded stakes attempts; Federico Tesio S. runner-up
Noteworthy Peach (Read the Footnotes); and the Todd Pletcher-trained Outlash
(Unbridled’s Song).

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com