Completed Pass Breaks Through in Jim McKay Turf Sprint

BALTIMORE, MD – Robert Bone’s Completed Pass broke through very nicely for his first career stakes score in Friday’s $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.

Breaking well from the outside post under Victor Carrasco as the 6/5 favorite in the field of six, Completed Pass raced up alongside the rail-breaking American Sailor and the pair dueled heads apart through opening fractions of :21.39 and :45.13. As they exited the far turn, Completed Pass began to poke his nose in front despite changing front leads multiple times and drifting back and forth in the stretch.

Wonky running style aside, Completed Pass proved too strong for his foes, crossing the finish line a length ahead of Tempt Me Twice in a final time of :57.35 for the 5-furlong sprint over the good turf course.

“The post position helped, being on the outside on a fast horse,” Carrasco said. “The instructions were to go on. He broke sharp, good enough, and I just made sure I was right there, the first one or two. Turning for home, I was right there. When I said ‘Go,’ he gave me a nice kick and he got it done.”

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Tricks to Doo was 3/4 of a length back in third. Oldies But Goodies made a bid at the top of the stretch but couldn’t sustain his move and faded back to fourth, while American Sailor and a non-factoring Clever Triad were close behind him to complete the order of finish.

Pure Sensation‘s connections announced Thursday that he would be scratched due to uncertainty of the turf course’s firmness. Bound for Nowhere and New York’s Finest followed suit on Friday; all three were trainer scratches.

Completed Pass’ win improved his record to 9-6-2-0, including a 4-3-1-0 mark since Bone privately purchased him from breeder Swifty Farms. The Indiana-bred 5-year-old gelded son of Pass Rush has now earned $188,030 lifetime and seems to have finally kicked the injury bug that kept him away from the track for 8 months before finally returning on February 27 over the Charles Town dirt.

“All the time, he showed to me a lot of speed; that’s why we put him in the sprint when we took him to Charles Town,” said the Maryland-based Gonzalez. “He proved he could run. Then we tried him on grass, and he ran big the last time. Today, he had tough competition, but with the scratches we had, we thought he had a big chance. He’s a little funny. He doesn’t switch leads at the right time, but I know he can run.”

Completed Pass returned $4.40 to win, $3.40 to place, and $2.20 to show. Tempt Me Twice brought back $19 to place and $5.40 to show, while Tricks to Doo paid $2.10 to show.