With the way Madman Diaries has been running lately, you’d almost have to be a madman to bet against the Florida-bred gelding.
Madman Diaries, a 2-year-old son of Bring the Heat, has won two straight starts by a combined 19 lengths, making him the overwhelming 1-2 morning-line favorite for today’s $150,000 Colin Stakes at Woodbine. He was bred and is trained by veteran conditioner Wesley Ward, who owns him in a partnership with Robert Teel.
Ward stands Bring the Heat for a $2,000 stud fee at his Ward Ranch in Ocala, and he also owns the horse’s dam, the Outflanker mare Harper N Abbey.
Madman Diaries finished second to the stakes-placed Firepole in his career debut at Keeneland in April, falling just a half-length short in that 4 ½-furlong, $43,000 maiden special weight race. He then romped to a 9 ¾-length score at the same distance in a $57,000 maiden special weight race at Woodbine in May.
Madman Diaries stepped up to stakes competition for the $147,257 Victoria Stakes at the Toronto oval June 19 and won that five-furlong contest by 9 ¼ lengths. He earned an 86 Beyer Speed Figure that day, easily the highest mark among the five juveniles entered in the Colin.
Ward said that following the Victoria win, he had planned to give Madman Diaries a break until the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (G2) on Del Mar’s synthetic surface Aug. 8, but the horse has been training so well on Keeneland’s artificial surface that he decided to run him back on a month’s rest. Madman Diaries had a bullet workout July 9, handily covering a half-mile in 47 2/5 seconds.
“He’s doing better than ever,” Ward said. “He had such a beautiful work and was just galloping. He’s right on top of his game and doesn’t have any physical issues, so we decided to run him back. He’s starting to get confidence in himself. Earlier on, he was a little hesitant about being inside and outside of horses, so we worked on that, and he’s been doing great.”
Madman Diaries drew the No. 5 post and will have Jeffrey Sanchez aboard for the third straight race. He’s shown early speed in all three of his starts.
“I got very lucky by drawing the outside post, so there shouldn’t be any traffic trouble,” Ward said.
The trainer said the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity (G1) on Sept. 8 is a goal for Madman Diaries.
The field for the Colin includes Brock N Rock (10-1), Devilish Stunt (9-2), Glory Game (3-1) and Standup Comic (15-1).
Brock N Rock finished second in the Victoria after winning his career debut. Devilish Stunt wired a $59,000 maiden special weight race by six lengths in his second start last month at Woodbine. Glory Game made his career debut at Woodbine on July 2, winning a $62,500 maiden claimer by 6 ¾ lengths. Standup Comic finished 11th in his career debut at Churchill Downs last month.
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– Photo of Florida-bred Madman Diaries by Michael Burns
