‘Rising Star’ Booth Stays Hot In Maryland Sprint Stakes

[Wandering Eyes]

Off at 90 cents on the dollar after sitting up on the board at 1-2 for a good portion of the wagering, 'TDN Rising Star' BOOTH (c, 4, Mitole–Sophia's Song, by Bellamy Road) was given a stiff test every step of the way by the hard-knocking and well-backed Epic Ride (Blame), but at the end of the day, his class prevailed en route to a third straight success at the Grade III level in Saturday's Maryland Sprint Stakes at Pimlico. Off like a shot in a field scratched down to just five short-track specialists, the $120,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $225,000 OBS March breezer was off to a flying start beneath Erik Asmussen and showed the way through an opening couple of furlongs in :23.30, with one-time Kentucky Derby participant Epic Ride keeping pace to his outside. Continuing to hold a slender advantage around the turn and past the quarter pole in :45.99, Booth was made to work for it by a very game Epic Ride, but he managed to hold sway to add to his prior victories in the GIII Whitmore Stakes and GIII Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at his winter base at Oaklawn Park. Concrete Glory (Bodemeister) dwelt at the start and was pulled out of the race by jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. It was a record-equaling fourth win in the race for the jockey's father Steve, who most recently saddled the recently retired 'Rising Star' Jaxon Traveler (Munnings) in the 2022 renewal. Sales history: $120,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $225,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 11-7-0-0. O-Bill & Corinne Heiligbrodt, Whispering Oaks Farm & Jackpot Farm; B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Steve Asmussen.

 

What a fantastic run from BOOTH ($3.80) in the $150,000 Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3) at @PimlicoRC. Erik Asmussen was up for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Another winner for Mitole (@spendthriftfarm)!

Looking for a Pick 5? Look here https://t.co/28CDidrNEI pic.twitter.com/un8AH7C3Rs

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) May 17, 2025

Saturday, Pimlico
MARYLAND SPRINT S.-GIII, $148,500, Pimlico, 5-17, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:10.39, ft.
1–BOOTH, 126, c, 4, by Mitole
            1st Dam: Sophia's Song (SW & GSP, $155,892),
                        by Bellamy Road
            2nd Dam: Dreamscape, by Mt. Livermore
            3rd Dam: Big Dreams, by Great Above
'TDN Rising Star'. ($120,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $225,000 2yo '23
OBSMAR). O-L. William Heiligbrodt, Corinne Heiligbrodt,
Jackpot Farm and Whispering Oaks Farm LLC; B-Clearsky Farms
(KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Erik Asmussen. $90,000.
Lifetime Record: 11-7-0-0, $851,191. *1/2 to Musical Mischief
(Into Mischief), GSW & GISP, $519,276 and Bright Future
(Curlin), GISW, $947,940. Werk Nick Rating: B.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Epic Ride, 120, c, 4, Blame–Pick a Time, by Gio Ponti.
($160,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Welch Racing LLC; B-Fred W.
Hertrich (KY); T-John Ennis. $30,000.
3–Celtic Contender, 120, c, 4, Irish War Cry–Celtic Katie,
by Posse. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Lewis Family Racing
Stable; B-Fred T Lewis (MD); T-Hamilton A. Smith. $15,000.
Margins: 1, 6 3/4, 5 1/4. Odds: 0.90, 1.50, 6.70.
Also Ran: S S Sinatra, Concrete Glory. Scratched: Ninetyprcentmaddie, Prince of Jericho. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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