Extravagant Kid looks strong off runner-up effort in Grade 1

Extravagant Kid brings the best credentials into the $75,000 Da Hoss at Colonial Downs, but trainer Brendan Walsh is taking nothing for granted ahead of the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint stakes on Saturday.

“It isn’t an easy race,” he said. “And you know how sprints can go – miss a beat at all and you can get beat.”

The Da Hoss, for 3-year-olds and up, is one of two stakes on the card. The other is the $100,000 Chesapeake, a sixfurlong race for 3-year-olds and up that drew popular stakes winners Mr. Jagermeister and Lewisfield.

Extravagant Kid is a fivetime stakes winner and part of a 10-horse field that includes fellow stakes winners Justaholic, Oak Bluffs, American Sailor, and Dirty. Extravagant Kid has gone 2 for 4 this year, winning a pair of stakes and

running second in two graded races. Extravagant Kid exits the Highlander at Woodbine, which marked the 6-year-old’s Grade 1 debut June 29.

“He’s gotten better and better as time’s gone on and I think he’s better this year than he’s ever been,” Walsh said. “I think he’s probably in his prime now.”

Extravagant Kid was prominent throughout in the Highlander, finishing second by a length and a half in the sixfurlong turf sprint, which went in a blazing 1:07.88. The Da Hoss became his next target because of its timing.

“It’s a nice race at Colonial,” said Walsh, who trains Extravagant Kid for DARRS Inc.

Extravagant Kid, who broke from the rail in the Highlander, will start from post 5 on Saturday. He will be ridden by Sheldon Russell.

“I think it’s a nice draw,” Walsh said. “We don’t have to be in a major hurry.”

Extravagant Kid, who has tactical speed, could get a tracking trip behind Justaholic, Fairweather Friend, the Grade 3-placed Smokin Nitro, and American Sailor, who has won starter handicaps in his last three starts, from May to July.

The chief threat could be Dirty, who won the $100,000 King Leatherbury at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in April at Laurel.

In the Chesapeake, Lewisfield could get an ideal tracking trip off Mr. Jagermeister. Both horses are returning from a freshening, with Mr. Jagermeister to break from post 2 while making his first start since April and Lewisfield starting from gate 3 in his first out since June.

The field of six also includes Sonny Inspired, a four-time stakes winner, and Speightsong, a stakes-winning halfbrother to Canadian Horse of the Year Up With the Birds.

Mr. Jagermeister is looking for the sixth stakes win of his career. He is returning to action following an optional $62,500 claiming sprint win at Oaklawn. The Beyer Figure of 96 he earned for covering six furlongs in 1:09.56 is the best last-race number in the Chesapeake. Leandro Goncalves was aboard at Oaklawn and has the mount Saturday for trainer Valorie Lund.

Trevor McCarthy has the mount on Lewisfield, a threetime stakes winner, all for trainer Jeff Runco. The horse boasts the field’s best career Beyer, a 105, earned in March.

◗ An overnight handicap at 2 1/4 miles over the hurdles has drawn Shoreline, who is a half-brother to multiple Grade 2 winner Catalina Cruiser. Shoreline, a winner over the jumps and on the flat, is by the Factor.