Salutos Amigos will look to win what has been an elusive graded stakes score outside of his favorite venue of Aqueduct Racetrack May 21 in the $150,000 Maryland Sprint Handicap (gr. III) at Pimlico Race Course.
The 6-year-old Salute the Sarge gelding, owned by trainer David Jacobson and Southern Equine Stable, is a six-time graded stakes winner, but the past five of those have been at Aqueduct from late in 2014 to his most-recent victory April 9 in the Carter Handicap (gr. I), his first grade I score.
ANGST: Salutos Amigos Secures Grade I in Carter
In his past nine graded tries outside of Aqueduct, he's been close but winless. He came in fourth last time out in the Churchill Downs Stakes (gr. II) and had two tough-luck seconds out west in the Palos Verdes (gr. II) and Midnight Lute (gr. III) earlier in the year at Santa Anita Park.
Back at Aqueduct this year, however, Salutos Amigos thrived. Before the Carter, the game sprinter won the Tom Fool Handicap (gr. III) for the second straight year.
LEWYN: 'Salutos' Storms From Last for Tom Fool Win
The only other graded winner in the seven-horse field is grade III victor Cinco Charlie , who won the Bashford Manor (gr. III) at Churchill Downs in 2014. The 4-year-old Indian Charlie colt hasn't found the winner's circle in four graded tries since, but did hit the board in three and has been a frequent winner in minor stakes wins throughout his career. Owned by William and Corrine Heiligbrodt, the Steve Asmussen-trained runner has an 8-2-3 record in 15 starts with earnings of $596,670.
Grade III-placed Sonny Inspired and Always Sunshine, stakes-placed Rockinn On Bye and Negrito, and last-out allowance winner All Star Red, complete the field.
Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 21, 2016, Race 5Entries: Maryland Sprint H. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1All Star Red (KY) Luis Saez 118 Rudy R. Rodriguez 12/1 2 2Sonny Inspired (MD) Jevian Toledo 118 Phil Schoenthal 10/1 3 3Always Sunshine (FL) Frankie Pennington 118 Edward T. Allard 7/2 4 4Cinco Charlie (KY) Florent Geroux 118 Steven M. Asmussen 3/1 5 5Rockinn On Bye (MD) Taylor M. Hole 118 Stephen M. Casey 15/1 6 6Negrito (FL) Horacio Karamanos 118 Phil Schoenthal 20/1 7 7Salutos Amigos (KY) John R. Velazquez 124 David Jacobson 1/1
