Flattered since his comeback, Girvin’s set for Friday race

Girvin has raced just once in the last nine months, but his runner-up performance May 6 in the Steve Sexton Mile (G3) is looking like a much stronger effort these days.

Since then, the race winner, Bee Jersey, went on to win the Met Mile. And Shotgun Kowboy, who was third, beat Grade 1 winner Mubtaahij next out in the Lone Star Park Handicap.

“I was happy with his comeback effort because I’m around the horse every day,” said trainer Joe Sharp. “But for everyone else to have peace of mind that he came back good, it looks better on paper that he was supported well by his competitors.”

Now, Girvin looms a bit larger for his next race, Friday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows. The 4-year-old son of Tale of Ekati tuned up for it Saturday morning with a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.00 at Sharp’s Churchill Downs base.

“I think he’s definitely matured in the right ways and come back a better horse,” said Sharp, who conditioned Girvin for his Haskell Invitational (G1) and Louisiana Derby (G2) victories in 2017. The Brad Grady-owned colt also ran 13th in the Kentucky Derby. 

“Things are different this year that we don’t have the 3-year-old race stigma hanging over us,” Sharp added. “We’re able to pick and choose — space him better — and make it about Girvin this year.”

Goals include winning another Grade 1 race, this time as an older horse, “and obviously the Breeders’ Cup would be in the wheelhouse,” the trainer said.

Sharp’s thinking Classic, not Dirt Mile, and “I probably would have told you the opposite last year.”

In all, Girvin has banked more than $1.6 million in his 10 starts with four wins and three seconds. He’ll carry one pound less, 118, than fellow Derby alum McCraken, who’s also targeting the 1 1/8-mile Cornhusker. Entries will be taken Sunday.