Contention Goes Deep in Grade 2 Firecracker Handicap

Frac Daddy, the 5/2 morning line favorite, returned from a ten-month layoff May 30 to run second in the Opening Verse Stakes after setting the pace and yielding late to multiple stakes winner, The Pizza Man. The Kenny McPeek trainee has won 5 of 19 career starts for earnings of nearly $700,000. Frac Daddy has won 1 of 5 career turf starts and is set to break from the rail under jockey Cory Lanerie.

Departing goes second turf

Departing (3/1) ran third in the Opening Verse, just a head behind Frac Daddy while also returning from a lengthy layoff. It was also Departing’s first career turf race after earning over $1.5 million and multiple stakes wins on dirt. Trainer Al Stall connects at a 25% clip with runners making their second start back from layoffs exceeding 180 days. Jockey Miguel Mena will replace Robby Albarado in the irons breaking from post 7. Departing, a five year-old gelded son of War Front out of a Pulpit mare is well-bred for the turf, boasting a Tomlinson number of 375.

Sky Flight back from layoff 

Sky Flight (7/2) and Hammers Terror (5/1) are legitimate candidates for win honors in a contentious race. The former, trained by Mark Casse, last raced in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Turf, finishing a close third with a 94 Beyer Speed Figure. Hammers Terror, an impressive allowance winner May 31 at Churchill, earned a 93 Beyer.