Marchman Storms to Victory in 20th Running of the Grade III Twin Spires Turf Sprint

May 03, 2014

Martin Racing Stable's Marchman roared past Sum of the Parts in mid-stretch and had more than enough to hold off a late charge from Undrafted by 1 ½ lengths to win the 20th running of the $166,800 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (Grade III) Presented by Twinspires.com for 4-year-olds and up.

Trained by Bret Calhoun and ridden by Robby Albarado, Marchman covered the five furlongs on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in :56.04. It was the second consecutive Grade III victory for Marchman, who captured the Shakertown at Keeneland last month.

Sum of the Parts led the field through an opening quarter-mile in :22.08 with Marchman is closest pursuit. The top two raced that way until the top of the stretch where they hooked up until Marchman took control.

The victory was worth $100,314 and increased Marchman's earnings to $325,942with a record of 13-5-2-3.

Marchman is a4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Sharp Humor out of the Indian Charlie mare Sookie Sookie.

Marchman returned $8.80, $5 and $3.40. Undrafted, ridden by John Velazquez, returned $7 and $5 and finished a neck in front of Positive Side, who paid $3.20 to show under Leandro Goncalves.

Scatman finished another 2 ½ lengths back in fourth and was followed in order by Havelock, Sum of the Parts, Stormofthecentury, Ancil and Googleado (ARG).

TWIN SPIRES TURF SPRINT QUOTES

ROBBY ALBARADO, rider of Marchman (winner) – 'We anticipated Sum of the Parts setting the pace. He went to the front the last time he ran but (trainer) Bret (Calhoun) said he'd be fine with a target to run at, so he found a target and came home nice. He cleared pretty quick. Obviously, when there is only one horse in front of you it is not hard to get an outside position. I felt very confident in him. I squeezed on him and he went on by Sum of the Parts commandingly.

BRET CALHOUN, trainer of Marchman (winner) – 'He got a great trip. He broke sharp. I think that was the key. We knew Sum of the Parts wanted the lead. We weren't concerned about not having the lead. (Jockey) Robby (Albarado) let him go. Coming off the turn for home, he looked like a winner.

You don't want to think that too soon, but he sure did look like one.
'He's in very good form. He's getting better and better. He loves turf. He can run on dirt, but right now we'll keep him sprinting on turf.
'I don't have a race in mind yet, but I'll keep the Breeders' Cup in the back of my mind.'

JOHN VELAZQUEZ, rider of Undrafted (second) – 'He just didn't help me leaving the gate. There's nothing you can do when you get off to a bad start. All you can do is hope for the best and hope you have some run which he did. He just had too much ground to make up.'

LEANDRO GONCALVES, rider of Positive Side (third) — 'He ran very good. He's a horse that has to sit back and make one run. I finally moved and it was a bit soon but he flattened out and we had to settle for second place.'

ROSIE NAPRAVNIK, rider of Sum of the Parts (sixth as favorite): – 'Our break wasn't that great. I really had to use him to get to the front.'

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