By Alan Carasso
Sagamore Farm's 'TDN Rising Star' Recruiting Ready (Algorithms) provided trainer Stan Hough with his first graded-stakes score in eight years when validating 1-2 favoritism in the GIII Gulfstream Park Sprint S. in South Florida May. 2. With a victory in Friday's GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S. at Keeneland, with an expenses-paid trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint on the line, the 5-year-old can give the 71-year-old conditioner his first starter on championship weekend since Tar Heel Mom (Flatter) checked in 12th in the 2011 GI Filly & Mare Sprint.
Fourth in Keeneland's GIII Commonwealth S. this past spring, the bay was second to Belmont-loving Firenze Fire (Poseidon's Warrior) in the May 11 Runhappy S. and a hard-trying third behind Catalina Cruiser in the GII True North S. June 7. Sixth of seven as the chalk in Del Mar's GI Bing Crosby S. at Del Mar July 27, he most recently cut out a sharp pace and held firm to take a stakes-quality Churchill allowance by 2 1/2 lengths Sept. 13.
The two most recent winners of the Phoenix are back to try to add to their totals this year. Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford) is the defending Phoenix champion, having outlasted 2017 hero Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) by a diminishing head 12 months ago. The chestnut controlled a very moderate pace en route to a big-margin (and big-figure) two-back success in the GII John A. Nerud S. at Belmont July 6 and he raced on the worst part of the Saratoga track in the GI Forego S. when last seen Aug. 24, ultimately finishing a tailed-off last of six.
Whitmore has faced the starter but four times this season, his lone victory coming in the Mar. 9 Hot Springs S. at Oaklawn Park. Second to Mitole (Eskendereya) in the Apr. 13 GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. and again in the GI Churchill Downs S. May 4, the chestnut was never a factor when a wide eighth in the True North. Last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up should have the race run to suit and he can be there if ready off the four-month absence.
Hog Creek Hustle (Overanalyze) took advantage of a strong pace to upset the GI Woody Stephens S. at Belmont June 8 and almost repeated the feat in the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. Aug. 24, his final-furlong rally falling a nose short of Mind Control (Stay Thirsty). He will be another beneficiary of any pace meltdown, but the six-furlong trip has the potential to work against him.
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