FIDDLERS PATRIOT TAKES JIM MCKAY TURF SPRINT STAKES
BALTIMORE, 05-18-12 –James F. Olson & R.A. Hill Stable’s Fiddlers Patriot pressed the pacesetter from the start before drawing clear in the stretch to capture in the $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint at Pimlico Race Course.
John Velazquez was at the controls as the son of Proud Citizen made his 2012 debut for trainer George Weaver. Super Chunky, who also raced close to the pace, finished 2 ¼ lengths back in second, while pacesetter Ju Jitsu Jax settled for third.
Defending champ Ben’s Cat, the race favorite, broke slowly and closed from far back to finish fifth.
Fiddlers Patriot completed the five-furlong distance in 56.12 and paid $10.60.
Jim McKay Turf Sprint Stakes Quotes
George Weaver (winning trainer, Fiddlers Patriot) – “I was a little bit timid about running this horse five-eighths. Sometimes going five-eighths you have to run and gun the whole way. I know he has good early speed, but I was a little bit reluctant to run five-eighths. He was ready to run and we thought we’d run today and at least know if he does handle five-eighths. Now we have a lot more options.”
John Velazquez (winning jockey, Fiddlers Patriot) – “The last few times I rode him it had rained and the turf was soft. He was bouncing around. I know he’s a quick horse. Today he broke well and saved ground. I followed the speed around the turn and let him go turning for home. We had a perfect trip.”
Sheldon Russell (jockey, beaten favorite, Ben’s Cat) – “He didn’t break as sharp as I would have liked. We were badly bumped on the turn. These big runners are always a concern because speed is holding strong on the turf. He galloped out strong.”
-mjc-
PHOTO CREDIT-Jim Duley, Maryland Jockey Club
Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club
410-578-4461 (Pimlico)
301-470-5461 (Laurel Park)
240-876-7403 (Mobile)
Follow us on Twitter @MDjockeyclub
This e-mail, and any documents or data attached hereto, is intended for the intended recipients only. It may contain confidential and/or privileged information and no rights have been waived by the sender. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby NOTIFIED that any dissemination, distribution, retention, archiving or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify me at the telephone number shown above or by return mail and delete this communication and any copy immediately. Stronach Group provides no assurances that this e-mail and its attachments are virus free; you are responsible for scanning all e-mails and attachments for viruses. Stronach Group disclaims all liability for damages caused by any virus which may be transmitted by this email. Thank you.
