NEWS
Starforaday surges in Maryland Sprint Handicap
Posted: Saturday, May 17, 2008 12:47 PM
STARFORADAY
Jim McCue/MJC photo
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
