BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Nick Sanna Stables and Lynch Racing’s Recruiter looks to use a seven-and-a-half-length victory in his last race as a springboard to stakes success in Saturday’s $75,000 State Representative’s Sprint going six furlongs at Parx Racing.
Trainer Cathal Lynch had Recruiter making the second start of his 4-year-old campaign in an upper level, $50,000 optional claiming going six furlongs at Monmouth Park on July 21 and the Florida-bred gelding responded with authority. He was also solid in his first start of the year on June 16, finishing second to Rominski in a six-furlong allowance race at Laurel.
A victory in the State Representative’s Sprint would be the third black-type triumph of his career—adding to the 2022 James F. Lewis III at Laurel and the rescheduled Parx Juvenile in January of 2023. He was also third last year in both the $99,000 Concern at Laurel and $106,0000 Jersey Shore at Monmouth Park.
Recruiter has earned $290,585 from his consistent record of six wins in 12 starts with a second and two thirds. He is by Army Mule out of Lady Halite, by Medaglia d’Oro and was bred in Florida by Beth Bayer. Lady Halite has two strong stakes contenders this week with her 2-year-old colt Mensa running in Friday’s bet365 Soaring Free at Woodbine.
Beyer consigned Recruiter to the 2021 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed Sale where Jackman Bottom Trading Co., as agent purchased him for $60,000. Lynch obtained him for $125,000 out of Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables consignment at the 2022 OBS June Sale.
Paco Lopez, who was aboard Recruiter once before for the aforementioned Jersey Shore, takes the call. They are 4-1 on the morning line and have drawn post five in the field of eight.
Twisted Ride appears to be the one to beat after finishing third in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt won by Nakatomi at Saratoga Race Course in his last start on July 27. However, Twisted Ride is also entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga.
The Michael Moore-trained 5-year-old has a lifetime of success at Parx having won half of his 18 starts, including four stakes, there with four seconds and two thirds. His most recent added-money success at Parx came last year in the Banjo Picker Sprint in August. In his two races prior to the Vanderbilt, both going seven furlongs at Parx, he won a state-bred allowance on June 8 and was second to One More Scoop in an open allowance on July 3.
Twisted Ride has won nine of 26 lifetime starts with six seconds and five thirds with earnings of $623,408. He is by Great Notion out of Diva’s Gold, by Tenpins.
Andy Hernandez has the mount and they will break from post three. They are the 2-1 morning line favorites.
Completing the field are Golden Candy with jockey Jaime Rodriguez, My Buddy B has rider Yan Aviles, Speedy Bolt with Eliseo Ruis named to ride, Scaramouche has not rider yet named, Alpine Thunder will have Abner Adorno in the irons and Dexter Haddock has the call on Praetorian Guard.
