Booth Shines in Maryland Sprint Stakes Victory

Booth, a striking chestnut colt by Mitole, showcased his commanding speed and class, extending his winning streak to four with a decisive front-running victory in the $150,000 Grade 3 Maryland Sprint Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday.

Ridden confidently by Erik Asmussen, the 4-year-old colt, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, left no doubt about his sprinting prowess, covering the six furlongs in a swift 1:10.39 over a track rated good.

The victory was a true family affair for the Asmussens, with Erik, the 2024 Eclipse Award-winning apprentice jockey, making his first trip to Maryland a memorable one by guiding Booth to his third consecutive graded stakes triumph.

The win also marked Steve Asmussen’s fourth victory in the Maryland Sprint.

Owned by William L. Heiligbrodt, Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, and Whispering Oaks Farm LLC – the same connections that campaigned his champion sire Mitole – Booth broke alertly from the gate.

Despite a slight bobble, he quickly established an easy lead, dictating the terms of the race.

He set sharp fractions of 23.30 seconds for the quarter-mile and 45.90 for the half-mile, with Grade 1-placed stakes winner Epic Ride, under Flavien Prat, applying mild pressure to his outside.

As the field turned for home, Epic Ride attempted to mount a challenge, but Booth, responding to Erik Asmussen’s cues, found another gear and shook clear in the upper stretch.

Under a hand ride through the final furlong, the 4-5 favorite maintained his advantage, crossing the wire one length ahead of a game Epic Ride.

“He broke so good and he put his ears up about three jumps away from there and I knew they were in trouble,” said winning jockey Erik Asmussen. “He was on cruise control the whole way around. He is fast, really fast. When we went the first quarter in 23, he did that so easy, it felt like I was on a morning gallop with him.”

Winning trainer Steve Asmussen expressed his pride and some pre-race concern: “How hard he ran the last three times and then shipping him, I was worried. But when he broke like that, he was himself. There were pretty quick horses in there. But when he breaks like that, it’s pretty obvious who’s going to be on the lead… He’s making his dad, Mitole, proud.”

The victory improved Booth’s record to 7 wins from 11 lifetime starts, with earnings now totaling $851,191.

Bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farms, Booth is out of the Bellamy Road mare Sophia’s Song, making him a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Bright Future and Grade 2 winner Musical Mischief. He was a $225,000 purchase at the 2023 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

Epic Ride, trained by John Ennis, finished a clear second, 6 3/4 lengths ahead of Celtic Contender, who was ridden by Victor Carrasco for trainer Hamilton Smith. S S Sinatra completed the order of finishers among those who completed the race.

Concrete Glory experienced a troubled start, having his head turned and breaking belatedly, and was subsequently pulled up uninjured. Prince of Jericho and Ninetyprcentmaddie were scratched from the race.

The Maryland Sprint is part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen series, and Booth’s win earned him $30,000 in credits toward entry fees for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar on November 1.

teve Asmussen indicated he would work backwards from the Breeders’ Cup Sprint to plan Booth’s upcoming schedule, ruling out the True North Stakes (G3) at Saratoga.

Scratched Horse(s): Ninetyprcentmaddie (Trainer), Prince of Jericho (Trainer)

Fractional Times: 23.30 45.90 57.81
Final Time: 1:10.39

Winning Connections

Winner: Booth
Jockey: Erik Asmussen
Trainer: Steven Asmussen
Owner: William L. Heiligbrodt, Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm and Whispering Oaks Farm LLC
Breeder: Clearsky Farms
Bloodline: Booth, Chestnut Colt, by Mitole out of Sophia’s Song, by Bellamy Road. Foaled May 02, 2021 in Kentucky.
Mitole stands at Spendthrift Farm, in Lexington, KY ($10,000 Stands & Nurses)

Payouts

• $1.00 Exacta (6-7) Paid: $4.40
• $1.00 Trifecta (6-7-3) Paid: $10.10
• $1.00 Superfecta (6-7-3-1) Paid: $18.20

Race Replay