February 6, 2025
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
We’re Live in 5, 4, 3…
Breaking news out of Hot Springs, Arkansas as veteran mare Corningstone, after claiming back-to-back stakes titles, will make another run at her first-ever graded stakes trophy in Saturday’s $250,000 Bayakoa (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
That’s right, a pair of victories in the Mistletoe and Pippin Stakes’ has Corningstone ready to get back on the ‘graded’ horse, both literally and figuratively.
The Kenneth McPeek trainee has only competed at the level twice previously, running to finishes of third and second in the Houston Ladies Classic (G3) and Locust Grove (G2), respectively.
Corningstone (2-1) enters the 1 1/16-mile contest well-positioned as the second choice on the opening line. However, she faces a stiff test against slight 9-5 favorite Loved.
Stock Watch
Following a strong, but extended stay at the lower ranks, Truly Quality found his groove at the end of 2024, rattling off three straight stakes scores, including two at the graded tier (Grade 3 Singspiel and Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup).
The ascending 5-year-old gelding’s first chance at three in a row comes this Saturday in the $100,000 San Marcos (G3T) at Santa Anita.
Taking post six in the eight-horse affair, Truly Quality’s recent surge earned him the top billing on the opening line at 8-5.
The newly minted multiple graded stakes winner is as consistent as they come, having landed on the podium in 12 of 13 lifetime starts (5-4-3).
Clear the Runway
Off to a perfect three-for-three start to his career, 3-year-old colt Poster has clearly been taking notes from former ‘Lob City’ Clippers stars Blake Griffin and Deandre Jordan.
The dynamic Eoin Harty charge with an active posterizer badge has his sights set on win number four this Saturday when he takes on nine worthy foes in the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
Drawing post seven for his first start since December’s Remsen (G2), which he won by a nose at 9-2, Poster will be under his third different jockey already.
Antonio Gallardo will handle the riding duties Saturday, following 2024’s most outstanding jockey Flavien Prat (aboard for the Remsen) and Rafael Bejarano.
Despite the movement, Poster remains in solid standing at 4-1 on the opening line.
Comfort Zone
Fresh off her first career stakes win in her fourth attempt at the rank, Just a Care (IRE) has her sights set on doubling down in this Saturday’s $140,000 Ladies’ Turf Sprint.
Returning the friendly confines of Gulfstream Park – the site of her Abundantia Stakes score on Dec. 28 – Just a Care should also benefit from a familiar face in highly-acclaimed rider Luis Saez.
When working together, the duo is two-for-three with their only miss being a second in a December 2023 allowance event.
Overall, Just a Care is 4-2-0 through nine lifetime starts. The Brian Lynch trainee enters the Ladies’ Turf Sprint as the 9-5 choice.
Dirt Devil
Sand Devil has been tormenting opponents out of the gate, taking his first two starts by a combined margin of 16 ½-lengths.
The unbeaten youngster looks to continue his dominant streak this Saturday at Aqueduct in the $125,000 Damon Runyon Stakes.
Lining up against a shorter field of five, Sand Devil finds himself in a similar position to that of his first career start, which he captured by a whopping 12 ½-lengths.
The Linda Rice charge also performed well against a larger nine-horse field in start number two.
Sand Devil brings his tenacious spirit to the 7-furlong Damon Runyan as the 2-5 choice.