by Jeff Lowe

Starforaday, who scored his first career win in the OBS Sprint Stakes two years ago, finally broke through for another big victory on Saturday in the $100,000 Maryland Sprint Handicap (G3) at Pimlico Race Course.

The five-year-old Five Star Day horse has won both of his starts this year after being purchased privately by Winning Move Stable in January, when he was in a field recovering from foot problems.

"This horse ripped off half of his foot when he was vanned off at Keeneland [Race Course] last year," said trainer Gary Contessa, referring to a fourth-place finish in an allowance race on October 17. "He has terrible, terrible feet."

Contessa credited Ian McKinlay, the same farrier who treated Big Brown's quarter-crack issues, with helping to save Starforaday's career. Like Big Brown, Starforaday wears the Yasha glue-on shoes that McKinlay developed.

"They've really made a difference," Contessa said. "We've got a long way to go. We're always going to have problems, but … now we have a hell of a sprinter."

Starforaday won an optional/claiming race on May 1 at Belmont Park in his only other start since the private purchase from owner-trainer Donna Wormser.

Contessa said he was concerned when pacesetter Celtic Innis led through a relatively pedestrian first quarter in :23.16 while Starforaday, a deep closer, rated last under jockey Edgar Prado. The pace picked up a bit going into the far turn and Starforaday made his move from four wide in early stretch to catch Suave Jazz and favorite Cognac Kisses and win by a neck, completing the six furlongs in 1:09.56 on a track rated as fast.

Suave Jazz finished second, a neck ahead of Cognac Kisses in third.

Out of the Known Fact mare Known Feminist, Starforaday has won four of 14 career starts and earned $184,519.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer