Tracksmith wins Fair Grounds' Woodchopper as Sir Winston runs last
Bet down to lukewarm 3-1 favoritism, Calumet Farm's Tracksmith came from off the pace to capture his second stakes win of the year in the $75,000 Woodchopper Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds, where Belmont Stakes hero Sir Winston returned and ran dead last in a switch to turf.
Tracksmith and jockey Adam Beschizza broke from the 13 hole and were carried extremely wide into the first turn. But Tracksmith improved his position down the backstretch while longshot Vivid Verse set fractions of :24.58, :49.82 and 1:15.14 for six furlongs.
Tracksmith continued to gain on the second turn and drew on even terms with the leaders at the top of the stretch. It was then an all-out sprint to the wire with multiple potential winners. Tracksmith, however, proved the bettors right when prevailing by about a half-length on the wire.
“A rough beginning,” Beschizza said following the win. “Luckily he was able to put himself in a good position afterward and he’s very competitive and was ready to go today.
Flying Scotsman, Tracksmith's Calumet stablemate, dead-heated with Spectacular Gem for second. They were followed by Clint Maroon. Tracksmith completed the trip in 1:39.07 and paid $8.80.
A 3-year-old colt by Medaglia d'Oro, Tracksmith was exiting a runner-up finish by a half-length in the Nov. 9 Commonwealth Turf (G3) at Churchill Downs for trainer Joe Sharp. This past summer, he also won the Frisk Me Not going a mile on the lawn at Monmouth Park.
Tracksmith improved his record to 10: 4-3-0 with earnings in excess of $300,000. Calumet purchased Trackmaster for $130,000 at last year's OBS April sale.
“One of the top five favorite horses I’ve ever had in my barn,” Sharp said. “Just an honest horse day in and day out. Shows up every day with his ears pricked and just ready to do his job. Mr. (Brad) Kelly and the (Calumet Farm) team has been patient with him and given him time to develop he’s paid them dividends. He’s a pleasure to train.”
Sharp added "a freshening is in order" for Trackmaster and a possible next start could come in the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes on Jan. 26 at Sam Houston Park.
Sir Winston, meanwhile, was bumped early and had to take back under Miguel Mena. He trailed the field the entire way and finished 10 lengths back in his first start since the Belmont in June.
Trainer Mark Casse’s assistant, David Carroll, said Sir Winston cooled out fine after the race and scoped clean.
“He had to check a little bit early in the race and never really felt comfortable out there,” Carroll said. “His ears were flat back and he never really took part in the race at all. You could tell wasn’t happy. We are disappointed. He trained too good to run that poorly and didn’t get much out of the race.”