Firecrow Blazes to Jim McKay Turf Sprint Win

BALTIMORE, MD – Firecrow put his blazing speed on display Saturday at Pimlico Race Course, establishing a new course record in the $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint Stakes.

Winning jockey Joel Rosario: “Ron [Moquett] told me he knows he’s fast, but we would have to see. He broke well out of the gate, I could’ve gone to the lead but with the other horse inside with a lot of speed too, I just decided to chill out for a little bit there and hopefully have something for the end and he did. It was very good.”

“[Post No. 11] did [concern me], but actually he broke so fast I was able to take a good position and it worked out.”

The Critical Way, Completed Pass, and Boldor completed the order.

Winning trainer Ron Moquett: “We were just waiting. We thought he was very good on the turf. But they don’t have any lawn at Oaklawn, and we weren’t shipping all the way to Fair Grounds from there when the purses are so much better at Oaklawn. And he’s capable on the dirt. We figured we’d get back around to it, and today was the day. It showed he belonged.”

“I knew we would be near the front end early. I was leaning heavily on Joel [Rosario] to do the rest, and I thought he did a great job.”

“Well, he’s a stakes-winner on turf now, so I guess [he’s better on] turf.”

“We’re tickled to death. We want to win these kinds of races on these kinds of days. It helps my owners. It helps my career. It helps the barn. We want to win big races on big days, and races that matter. Win percentage doesn’t mean anything if you can’t win the big ones.”

This is the first career stakes win for Firecrow. The 5-year-old son of Maclean’s Music improved his record to 14-4-3-2 and has earned $233,536 for owners Robert V. LaPenta and Harlow Stables LLC.

Firecrow returned $21.60 to win, $9.00 to place, and $5.80 to show.