To view the Firecracker Handicap, click here.

by Patrick Reed

Grade 1 winner Mr. Sidney benefited from patient handling from jockey Kent Desormeaux and uncoiled a stretch rally to overtake Inca King and win the $167,700 Firecracker Handicap (G2) by 1½ lengths at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Returning to his preferred surface, the five-year-old Storm Cat horse rebounded impressively from a disappointing 11th-place finish on the main track in the Shadwell Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park on May 25 and reestablished his position as a leading turf miler.

Mr. Sidney was sent off as the 2.20-to-1 favorite in the Firecracker despite having previously raced only once at Churchill—finishing tenth out of 11 horses in the 2008 Falls City Handicap (G3)—and facing a field of six challengers that included multiple Grade 1 winner Thorn Song, Grade 2 winners Tizdejavu and Inca King, and Grade 3 winners Seaspeak and Wise River, each with multiple wins on the Churchill Downs turf course.

Desormeaux settled Mr. Sidney in sixth through the backstretch as 2008 Firecracker winner Thorn Song set opening fractions of :23:79 and :47.28 through a half-mile. Thorn Song faded on the far turn and was overtaken by Inca King and Tizdejavu, with Wise River close behind.

Inca King took the lead in early stretch as Desormeaux angled Mr. Sidney five-wide and urged his mount into contention. Inca King continued well through midstretch, but Mr. Sidney proved much the best in the final yards, covering one mile in 1:37.28 on yielding turf.

Inca King held on to finish second, 3¾ lengths ahead of Seaspeak.

Trained by Bill Mott, Mr. Sidney emerged as a top-class turf horse in the spring with a half-length win over Firecracker foe Passager (Fr) in the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G1) on April 10 at Keeneland Race Course. He encountered traffic trouble during the Metropolitan Handicap’s one-turn mile in his first start on dirt and faded badly.

With his comeback score in the Firecracker, Mr. Sidney improved his career record to five wins in ten starts and boosted his earnings to $407,275. He is out of the multiple Grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Tomisue’s Delight, a full sister to 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Patrick Reed is a THOROUGHBRED TIMES contributing writer