Crazy Mason rallies and edges. (Dom Napolitano)
By Keith McCalmont
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Donna Wright and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Crazy Mason made the grade with a last-to-first charge under Manny Franco to capture Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Carter presented by NYRA Bets, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Gregg Sacco, the 4-year-old Coal Front colt was making his first attempt in graded company since a seventh-place finish in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby while on the Kentucky Derby trail last March. Crazy Mason has raced exclusively in sprint events since returning to action in November here when a close fourth while racing from a six-month layoff and entered the Carter off a pair of local rallying sprint scores against winners.
Will Sacco, assistant to his father, said he was thrilled to see Crazy Mason break through at the stakes level.
“I’m just super proud of Crazy Mason and he looks like he could be one of the top sprinters; he loves Aqueduct,” said Will Sacco. “Super happy for all the connections and super happy for my dad. We’ve had ups and downs, and this is an up. We’ll cherish it and look [forward to] the summer.
“We were most worried if he was good enough. He was 0-for-6 in stakes prior to today. He was facing a good-quality field, the toughest group other than the Tampa Bay Derby, which produced Domestic Product. It was a class test today, and he just keeps stepping up. Manny rode an unbelievable race first time on him and I’m just super happy for everyone involved. Hopefully, this will be a nice horse in the summertime.”
Crazy Mason, with Franco aboard for the first time, was away last-of-7 from the inside post and trailed the field with a ground-saving trip as Full Moon Madness set splits of 22.37 seconds and 44.85 under pressure from the quick-breaking Maximus Meridius with Quint’s Brew keeping close watch from third.
Surveillance launched a wide bid into the turn and was full of run to make it four across the track late in the turn with Quint’s Brew emerging as the one to beat. Crazy Mason, fifth at the stretch call, circled widest of all and quickly overtook Surveillance, Full Moon Madness and Dilger with only a streaking Quint’s Brew to catch. Quint’s Brew dug in gamely under Mychel Sanchez, but Crazy Mason’s momentum would not be denied a narrow neck victory in a final time of 1:21.95 over the fast main track.
Franco, who recently took honors as leading rider at the Big A winter meet, said he was happy to see a solid pace up front.
“I had pace in front of me, so I was happy where I was,” Franco said. “I just wanted him to give me the run that he always does, and he did, and he was there for me.
“I saved all the ground,” continued Franco. “I stayed most of the race on the rail, so when I got to the quarter pole, I was going to swing wide, but that’s because it is what they told me to do, to be in the clear if I can. So, I did, and the horse did it.”
It was 2 1/2-lengths back to Dilger with Surveillance, Donegal Momentum, Maximus Meridius and Full Moon Madness rounding out the order of finish. Sheriff Bianco scratched in favor of a start in Sunday’s $125,000 Haynesfield versus fellow New York-breds.
Franco said he felt confident in his charge throughout despite being so far back.
“He was traveling so well. I knew I had pace ahead of me, so I was good, and my horse did an amazing run at the end,” Franco said.
Sanchez said the Ned Allard-trained Quint’s Brew, who entered from back-to-back-stakes scores, performed well in his first outing away from Laurel Park.
“We always say it is tough [after a second], but he was stepping up in class and I think he ran a huge, huge race,” Sanchez said. “The one [Crazy Mason], I thought he was a surprise to everybody I’d say, but I think my horse ran a huge, huge race. He gave everything he had. Let’s see how he comes back after the race and we’ll talk to Ned about next steps moving forward. I do believe he can run in Grade 2s and Grade 1s, he’s got the ability.
“He was running really well with a nice gallop out, everybody will say it was a tough beat, but I think he ran his eyes out,” Sanchez added. “He gave me everything he’s got.”
Will Sacco said Crazy Mason, a maiden winner in July 2023 at Saratoga Race Course, could now point to the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3, $400,000 True North on June 7 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.
“We weren’t counting our chickens, but if he ran well today, we were looking at the True North up on Belmont Day, 6 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga,” Sacco said. “He broke his maiden in his only start there, so he’s 1-for-1 at that track. I think after today, hopefully everything goes well before that and that will be his next start.”
Crazy Mason, a $27,500 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale purchase, is out of the graded stakes-placed Maria’s Mon mare Izshelegal, who is a half-sister to graded stakes-placed Comfort. His third dam is dual graded stakes-winner Katz Me If You Can, who captured the 2001 Grade 2 Genuine Risk Handicap at Belmont Park.
Bred in Kentucky by Gmbracstables, Mr. & Mrs. Ramon Rangel & Mr. & Mrs. Zachary Madden, Crazy Mason banked $165,000 in victory while improving his record to 13-5-2-2. He returned $12.60 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Sunday with a 10-race card that features the $125,000 Biogio’s Rose in Race 4 and the Haynesfield in Race 9. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
