Hamilton Saddles Celtic Contender to Maryland Sprint Victory

Lewis Family Racing Stable’s Celtic Contender, trained by popular Maryland trainer Hamilton Smith, drove down the stretch under jockey Victor Carrasco to win the $100,000 Maryland Million Sprint by a half length over Band Camp. Freeze the Fire finished third.

A 3-year-old son of Irish War Cry out of the stakes-winning Posse mare Celtic Katie, covered the six furlongs in 1:09.87.

Arden’sluckytobe, who broke through the gate briefly before the race, took the lead and set fractions of :22.19 and :44.77 before giving way to Freeze the Fire around the turn. Entering the stretch, Carrasco moved Celtic Contender outside and drove past Freeze the Fire before holding off a late run by Band Camp.

Celtic Contender has won four of 10 starts. The colt won the Star de Naskra earlier this year, was third in the Concern and won last time going seven furlongs.

“We ran him in a couple stakes going long, and we probably should have waited instead of running in there,” Smith said. “He ran seven-eighths last time and he ran real big in that race. We ran him back at three-quarters and he performed like we thought he should. He’s a nice colt.”

From Laurel Park