BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Stymied without a clear path coming out of the turn, Florida-bred Grade A found a seam at the top of the stretch to get by frontrunning Cuda Cutie in deep stretch and win a first condition allowance race sprinting on the Colonial Downs turf Thursday. Trainer Jeremiah O’Dwyer and jockey Johan Rosado teamed up for their third win of the day as Grade A earned the $43,200 winner’s share of the $76,800 purse for owners Howling Pigeon Farms and High Schticking Thoroughbreds.

The out-of-state allowance win by Grade A also produces a $3,000 Export Incentive for Juan Larrazabal of Wellington, Florida who bred Grade A in the name of his San Francisco Stables.

Rosado was in no rush with Grade A in the early stages, racing in seventh among the 11-contenders, four lengths off Cuda Cutie and jockey Emmanuel Esquivel. Grade A was trapped behind Cuda Cutie and Baby Block until they turned for home when he found a gap but still had two lengths to make up. Grade A eventually got by Cuda Cutie and held off Aldene on the rail in second to win by three-quarters of a length. Cuda Cutie was another head farther back in third followed by Love Actually, Tululo, In Her Glory, Soaring Angel, Baby Blocks, Shameless Bride, Wassail and Thirst for Hope. Bramble Blast, Royally Blue and Sweeterthanwhiskey were scratched.

The final time on the firm turf was 1:02.23 and Grade A paid $4.60 to win as the 6-5 favorite.

It was just the second career win for Grade A and first since breaking his maiden going a mile on the Gulfstream Park turf in January of last year. The 4-year-old son of Army Mule out of Downtown Drifter, by Devil His Due has now won two of 16 career starts with four seconds and two thirds and earnings of $159,245.

O’Dwyer purchased him for $40,000 out of the Robert Vickers consignment at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale. A three-time OBS graduate, Grade A first sold for $20,000 to Wade Russell & Burk Equestrian Family out of Richard Kent’s Kaizen Sales consignment at the 2023 OBS Winter Mixed Sale. He did not meet his reserve at the 2023 OBS Yearling Sale that October.

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