BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Fresh off a victory in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga, Florida-bred Spirit Wind travels to Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Friday night for the $500,000 Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon for fillies and mares at seven furlongs. The 5-year-old daughter of Double Diamond Farm stallion Bahamian Squall has been labeled as the even money program favorite in the field of eight as she races at her fifth different track in as many starts this year.
Spirit Wind was impressive in showing her natural speed in winning the six-furlong Honorable Miss by a neck on July 24, leading from start to finish with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. It was the second time Smith had traveled from his base in Southern California to ride Spirit Wind, having guided her to a three-and-a-half-length victory in the $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint going six furlongs at Lone Star Park on May 27.
Miller Racing LLC purchased Spirit Wind privately and sent her to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. to start her 2024 campaign. In her first race from the Jospeh barn, she finished third, beaten less than a length by winner Red Carpet Ready in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie at Gulfstream Park on March 9. She then finished sixth in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff won by Vahva at Churchill Downs in May.
Spirit Wind has seven wins, two seconds and a third in 12 lifetime starts while earning $555,090. She is out of Sacred Psalm, by Awesome of Course and was bred in Florida by Jacks or Better Farm Inc.
Smith will again ride and they have post one.
Florida-bred Night Cap will try to upset Spirit Wind in the Pink Ribbon for trainer Horacio De Paz and owner Kristin Cabrera, who claimed the 6-year-old mare for $40,000 two starts back.
In her first start for her new connections, Night Cap won the $131,000 Dashing Beauty by nearly five lengths going six furlongs at Delaware Park on July 7. De Paz had taken her out of a second-place finish to Goodgirl Badhabits in a second condition, optional claiming at Pimlico on May 16 after she had won two straight at Tampa Bay Downs. The latest was a 14 ¼-length romp in a second condition, $32,000 optional claiming going six furlongs on April 26 in a race in which she had also been claimed.
Night Cap has won 12 of 23 career starts with a second and four thirds with earnings of $346,115. She is by J P’s Gusto out of Midnight, by Silver Deputy and was bred in Florida by Lonnie Stokes.
Night Cap is 12-1 on the morning line and Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride from post seven.
Clearly Unhinged, the second choice on the morning line at 4-1, gets a second shot at Spirit Wind after finishing third in the Honorable Miss while conceding to her two pounds under the handicap conditions. Friday, both fillies will carry 124 pounds.
Owned by John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings Inc. and Jarret Prussin, Clearly Unhinged was transferred to the barn of Steve Asmussen to start her 2024 campaign. The 4-year-old filly responded with two straight wins at Churchill from the new barn including a length-and-a-half score in the Grade 3 Winning Colors going six furlongs on May 27.
Clearly Unhinged is by Into Mischief out of Smart Win, by Smart Strike and has won four with two seconds and two thirds in 10 lifetime starts. She looks to build on her career bankroll of $529,235.
Cristian Torres will ride Clearly Unhinged from post four.
