April 25, 2024

Mind Your Biscuits dazzles in Belmont Sprint blowout win

Mind Your Biscuits and Joel Rosario easily capture the Belmont Sprint Championship (G2) on July 8, 2017 (c) Joe Labozzetta/Adam Coglianese Photography

Mind Your Biscuits cruised to the lead leaving the far turn and when jockey Joel Rosario asked for run in midstretch, the Belmont Sprint Championship (G2) was quickly over. The 4-year-old colt made a case for being America’s top sprinter with the sublime 3 ½-length victory and earned a berth to the November 4 TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar in the “Win & You’re In” event.

Trained and co-owned by Chad Summers, Mind Your Biscuits was exiting a three-length romp in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) over an international cast in late March. The son of Posse also captured the Malibu (G1) at Santa Anita in late December and finished third in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (elevated to second by post-race disqualification).

Mind Your Biscuits stalked the pace about five lengths back in fourth as Green Gatto sped forward at the break to establish early splits in :22.67 and :45.64 on a clear lead. The pacesetter began to tire mdway around the far turn and Mind Your Biscuits advanced without urging to take command while straightening for home, surging clear as Rosario sat chilly.

Awesome Slew rallied into the frame on the outside approaching the eighth pole but Mind Your Biscuits put any notion of suspense quickly to rest while being given his cue, drawing off in eye-catching fashion through deep stretch.

“He does everything on his own, easy,” said Rosario, who won his second consecutive graded stakes on the program. “Everything he does is just right. He’s great. He went to Dubai and won there and he comes back and wins again.”

Mind Your Biscuits was off as the 7-5 favorite in the seven-horse field and completed seven furlongs in 1:21.84. He’s campaigned by J Stables LLC, Head of Plain Partners, Kisber, Summers et al.

Awesome Slew held second by a length over the late-running Tommy Macho, with nearly another five lengths back to Stallwalkin’ Dude in fourth. Greet Gratto wound up fifth and was followed by Fellowship and Unified, who offered little as the 2-1 second choice.

Bred in New York by Jumping Jack Racing LLC, Mind Your Biscuits was purchased for $47,000 as a yearling at the 2014 Keeneland January sale.  He’s out of the Toccet mare Jazzmane, a half-sister to Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Kimchi.

Now a four-time graded winner, Mind Your Biscuits has bankrolled $2,207,166 from a 16-6-6-2 record.

Summers said the $600,000 Forego (G1) at Saratoga on August 26 is next for the dynamite sprinter.

“We know how good he was training going into this,” the trainer said. “There were still some doubters who said it was a subpar Dubai (Golden Shaheen). We didn’t think so. We know what he’s capable of and we’re ready for the rest of the year. It makes me think a mile won’t be a problem for him, maybe a little bit further. He kept going and going and kicked away.

“We’ll go to the Forego right now and then look at all options. But the Forego is our next goal and hopefully (win) an Eclipse Award as well.”