BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-breds Creditworthy and Spirited Sol are included in a large field of 11 grass speedsters set for Thursday’s Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint, a six-furlong inner turf contest for 3-year-olds and older offering a $200,000 purse.
Originally scheduled for Sunday, September 27, the Belmont Turf Sprint was among six stakes moved to Thursday and Friday when the track postponed racing last Saturday and Sunday due to a powerful nor’easter weather system.
An out-of-state win at this level by either Creditworthy or Spritited Sol would produce a $5,000 Export Incentive for their respective breeders paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Creditworthy is trained by Chad Brown for Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stable and makes his second attempt in a stakes after finishing third last out in his added-money debut. The 5-year-old gelding came from last of seven to finish third, just two lengths off winner Jean Valjean, in the $150,000 Disco Partner racing five-and-a-half furlongs on the turf at Saratoga Race Course on September 6. Jean Valjean is also entered back in the Belmont Turf Sprint.
He went into the Disco Partner off a victory in a high level, $110,000 optional claiming on August 2 over the same course and distance, his first race in nearly a year away from the track. His previous race prior to the break was on August 30 of 2025 when he took a second condition, $75,000 optional claiming going five-and-a-half furlongs on the Saratoga turf.
Creditworthy has won half of his eight career starts with a second and two thirds while banking $282,263. He is by Mitole out of Paddy’s Flight, by Paddy O’Prado and was bred in Florida by Tami Bobo and Milan Kosanovich, both of Ocala.
Klaravich Stable purchased Creditworthy as a 2-year-old in training for $325,000 at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale where he was consignedby de Meric Sales.
Flavien Prat will ride Creditworthy from post five and they are listed at 6-1 on the morning line.
Winterhawk Farm’s Spirited Sol has won three of his last five races going back to a three-length victory in the $99,000 Karl Boyes Stakes at 34-1 going six furlongs on the all-weather course at Presque Isle Downs on July 3.
Last out, the 8-year-old son of Soldat took the $151,000 Da Hoss going five-and-a-half furlongs on the Colonial Downs turf on September 7. He also won an upper tier, $62,500 optional claiming going six furlongs on synthetic at Presque Isle on July 28. His losses in the span were two thirds, one in the off-the-turf, $95,000 Wolf Hill going five-and-half furlongs over a sloppy main track at Monmouth Park on July 18, another in a $100,000 overnight handicap going five-and-a-half furlongs on the grass at Colonial Downs on August 15.
Spirited Sol is trained by Kevin Rice and has seven wins, 10 seconds and eight thirds in 36 career starts. He is out of Spirited Storm, by Stormy Atlantic and was bred in Florida by Gary Randolf of Richmond, Texas in the name of his TAG Stables.
Martina Rojas has ridden Spirited Sol in 10 of his last 11 races and has the mount for Thursday. They have drawn post nine and are 15-1 on the morning line.
Jean Valjean looks for his third straight stakes victory after winning the aforementioned Disco Partner and the five-furlong, $75,000 Marshall Jenney on the Penn National grass course on August 14.
Trained by Elizabeth Merryman for Marth Nevins and Micheal Pawasaratm Jean Valjean is a 7-year-old gelded son of Uncle Lino out of Lady’s Tale, by Tale of the Cat. He has consistent career finishing in the top three with 10 wins, a second and three thirds in 24 career starts with earnings of $396,441.
Jomar Torres has the call on Jean Valjean from post 10 and they are 10-1 on the morning line.
Twenty Six Black is the 2-1 program favorite for trainer Horacio De Paz and owner Roger Cimbora Jr.
A winner of the $200,000 Harvey Pack (Listed) going five-and-a-half furlongs on the Saratoga grass on July 5, the 6-year-old gelding was fourth last out in the Grade 2 Troy won by John the Beer Man with Belmont Turf Sprint contender Waralo second.
Manny Franco will be aboard Twenty Six Black, a son of War Dancer, from post seven.
Rounding out the field are Alogon with Forest Boyce in the irons, Dylan Davis rides Card Trick, Chasing Liberty teams with jockey Kendrick Carmouche, Antonio Fresu takes the reins on Egyptian Mau (Saf), Waralo will have Jose Lezcano in the stirrups, Spiced Up will be guided by Junior Alvarado and Let My People Go will have the riding services of Ricardo Santana Jr.
Return to the September 30 issue of Wire to Wire
