Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Girvin gets started in Sexton Mile
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Girvin established himself as one of last year’s top 3-yearolds, winning the Grade 1 Haskell and earning a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. But his connections passed on the big dance to freshen him, and he launches what could be another memorable campaign Sunday in the Grade 3, $200,000 Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park.
“He’s coming back better than ever,” said trainer Joe Sharp.
The Sexton Mile is for 3-yearolds and up and drew a field of seven, including Shotgun Kowboy, who went over $1 million in earnings in February; Oh So Regal, who won the $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap in track-record time in April; and the sharp Bee Jersey, who is chasing his third straight win.
Sunday’s card also features the return of Conquest Mo Money, the Arkansas Derby runner-up in 2017 who will be making his first start since a seventh-place finish in the Preakness in an allowance sprint.
STEVE SEXTON MILE (RACE 9) KEY CONTENDERS
Girvin, by Tale of Ekati Last 3 Beyers: 86-81-95
◗ An earner of $1.5 million, he won last year’s Risen Star and Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds before finishing 13th in the Kentucky Derby. A few starts later, Girvin won the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth to qualify for the BC Classic, but after a fifth-place finish in the Oklahoma Derby on Sept. 24, the horse was given a break.
“We were just listening to Girvin,” said Sharp, who trains Girvin for Texas resident Brad Grady. “We had to exercise some patience and some selfcontrol and listen to Girvin because we had the automatic berth. We talked about it. The Breeders’ Cup will come again. Obviously, we would have loved to have run, but we have to do right by Girvin.”
◗ Girvin was rested at Grady’s Grand Oaks farm in Ocala, Fla., and recently has been working at Keeneland.
“He came back to us in February,” Sharp said. “As far as I can tell, we have him as tight and fit as you can have a horse off a layoff. I feel like he’s battleready.
“We’re looking to win the race. More importantly, have a good comeback experience. I think the flat mile, that’s a good distance to come back. If he runs a winning race and we’re happy with how he comes back from this race, the Stephen Foster could definitely be our next spot.”
The Grade 1, $500,000 race is June 16 at Churchill Downs and offers a berth in the BC Classic.
◗ Girvin will break from post 5 under Adam Beschizza.
“We think there’s a pretty good pace scenario in there,” Sharp said. “I think being freshened and coming back off a layoff, he’ll be a little closer than we saw at the tail end of last season.”
Shotgun Kowboy, by Kodiak Kowboy Last 3 Beyers: 94-82-93
◗ He became a millionaire Feb. 3, when he wired a field of allowance rivals at Oaklawn. He won another allowance there last out March 23, again leading throughout for breeder, owner, and trainer C.R. Trout.
◗ Shotgun Kowboy, a winner of the Oklahoma Derby, will break from post 2 under Luis Quinonez.
Oh So Regal, by Sidney’s Candy Last 3 Beyers: 94-83-52
◗ He put it all together in the Sunland Handicap, running 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.21 to register his first stakes win. Oh So Regal lowered the track record of 1:47.37 set in 2015 by Proceed.
◗ Alfredo Juarez Jr. has the mount from post 4 for Judge Lanier Racing and trainer Miguel Hernandez.