Always Sunshine gets first graded stakes win in Maryland Sprint
On a cloudy and cool Saturday afternoon, Always Sunshine broke through with his first career graded-stakes victory in the $150,000 Sagamore Spirit Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3) at Pimlico Race Course.
The 30th running of the Maryland Sprint for 3-year-olds and up was the first of eight stakes and four graded stakes on a spectacular 14-race Preakness Day program at Pimlico Race Course.
Bred and owned by Gilbert Campbell’s Stonehedge Farm and trained by Ned Allard, the same connections that will run Abiding Star in the 141st Preakness Stakes (G1) later Saturday, Always Sunshine took the lead from Cinco Charlie in mid-stretch and pulled away to a 2 ½-length victory in 1:10.49 over a muddy main track.
It was the fifth career win, third in as many tries over an off track and second in a stakes for Always Sunshine ($5.80), second choice in a field of seven at 9-5 under regular rider Frankie Pennington. The bay West Acre colt was second in the Tom Fool (G3) March 12 at Aqueduct in his only previous attempt at graded company.
All Star Red was second, two lengths ahead of 50-1 long shot Rockinn On Bye. Grade 1 winner Salutos Amigos, the 6-5 favorite who entered the race 7-for-7 on off tracks, was a non-threatening fifth.
Source: Pimlico Race Course