Laurie Ross
Iron Maiden Thoroughbreds

The Sapling Stakes (G-3) is an old and prestigious race and has been held since 1883. The names of Needles, Hail To Reason, Buckpasser, Foolish Pleasure and Alydar are engraved in the role call of past winners. Over the last 20 years, the Sapling has been a precursor sprint careers rather than Classic inspirations. Hennessy, Smoke Glacken, Yes It’s True and Valid Video won the Sapling then continued making a name for themselves as sprinters on the track and precocious sires in the breeding shed. Some of the colts entered in this year’s edition of the Sapling have pedigrees to mature into two turn horses, but most of these will become sprint specialists. Maybe a future Breeders’ Cup
 
Madman Diaries (Bring the Heat – Harper N Abby, by Outflanker) tries dirt for the first time. He has blazing speed top and bottom in his pedigree and has run some wicked fractions in all of his races. His sire is a descendant of the brilliant but fragile In Excess sire line and his second dam Meafara was second two years running in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The Wesley Ward barn wins with 23% of their shippers. Nacho Saint (Yes It’s True – Flashy, by Wild Again) has a case of seconditis. He gained ground in his last two races, but couldn’t get to the pacesetters over speed-favoring tracks. His sire won this race in 1998. His dam is a half sister to Kings Lyn, dam of Sara Louise and this year’s Debutante Stakes winner Just Louise. He has a bullet five furlong work under his girth.
 
Another Silver Oak (Bluegrass Cat – Off the Richter, by Richter Scale) faded to third in the Sanford after chasing the pace. He is the first foal for his stakes placed sprinting dam. She is a half sister to the multiple stakes winning sprinter Nightmare Affair. Damsire Richter Scale was a brilliant sprinter who set a new track record for six furlongs. He owns a series of quick and represents the always dangerous Pletcher barn.
 
Vengeful Wildcat (Vindication – Wild Snitch, by Forest Wildcat) is an undefeated stakes winner over this track and has beaten Brother in Arms and Nacho Saint. He’s built for speed and his dam won the Sorority Stakes (G-2) at this track. Vengeful Wildcat’s second dam was also a six furlong stakes winner. Vengeful Wildcat’s works have been on the slow side since his last victory. Printing Press (Tapit – Wonderstar, by Mountain Cat) won his debut by a neck. His dam is a full sister to the dam of San Raphael (G-3) winner El Gato Malo. The Pompay barn is 0-7 with maidens jumping into stakes competition. J J’s Lucky Train (Silver Train – Delta Sensation, by Thunder Gulch) was claimed after his winning debut. His dam was a stakes winner over the turf. The Anderson barn is 0-23 with horses making their first start after a claim.
 
Chipshot (Peace Rules – Chipiski, by Appealing Skier) has found trouble in almost every one of his four starts, so he adds blinkers for this race. He proved he has talent when he posted a sub 1:00 win at Monmouth and beat Nacho Saint. Chipshot’s dam is a multiple stakes winning sprinter and counts the Chaposa Springs Handicap (G-3) among her victories. The Assmussen barn is 23 percent with horses wearing first time blinkers.
 
Maybesomaybenot (Sunday Break – Majestic Mommy, by Olympio) lead all the way in the Sanford Stakes. His sire currently stands in France and his dam is a half sister to a stakes winner. Maybesomaybenot breezed a bullet five furlongs for the Sapling. The Maker barn is 23 percent with shippers.
 
Selections
 
How the track is playing: Monmouth is known for speed and front runners capture 35 percent of the races. All but two horses in this race have won on the lead or pressing the pace, so this race could go to the one who breaks best and has the stamina to keep going.

Madman Diaries has run a full second faster then the rest of this field. He weakened in his last race, but should benefit from his last work. Maybesomaybenot has also run swift fractions in his last couple of races. Nacho Saint once again encounters a speed favoring track and will likely be gaining ground at the end. Vengeful Wildcat will be the local favorite and will be dangerous. Printing Press closed ground to win over this track for his debut and gets an extra furlong to play with. Chipshot broke his maiden over this track posting a triple digit speed figure in the process. If he can stay out of trouble, he also has a shot. JJ’s Lucky Train steps up in company. Another Silver Oak couldn’t keep up in the Sanford and faces a quicker bunch today.
 
Maybesomaybenot
Nacho Saint
Vengeful Wildcat
Madman Diaries – longshot