Robert Tell and Wesley A. Ward’s Madman Diaries took control out of the gate and never looked back, winning the $150,000 Sapling Stakes (gr. III) (VIDEO) by a half length Sept. 4 at Monmouth Park.
After setting fractions of :22.43 for the first quarter and :46.47 for the half-mile, Madman Diaries was confronted by Vengeful Wildcat nearing the eighth pole, but repelled that challenge to win Monmouth’s top race for 2-year-olds under Jeffrey Sanchez at odds of 5-1. It was the first try on dirt for the gelding, who made his first four starts on Polytrack.
“I was pretty confident in him,” said Ward, who also bred and conditions the son of Bring the Heat—Outflanker, by Harper N Abbey. “He’s been breezing up at Saratoga and had me convinced he can run on dirt, that’s why we took a shot here.”
Madman Diaries scored his third win in five starts while covering the six-furlong Sapling in 1:11.64 on a fast track. After debuting at Keeneland in April, he had run his last three at Woodbine, including a 9 1/4-length romp in the June 19 Victoria Stakes and a runner-up effort last out in the July 17 Colin Stakes. He has now earned $247,822.
Madman Diaries paid $13.60, $6.80, and $5.60, and topped the $80.20 exacta (1-4). Vengeful Wildcat held for second and paid $4.20 and $3.20. It was a neck back to Chipshot, who paid $4.40 to show. Favorite Maybesomaybenot checked in fourth in a field of eight.
