Sweet Soddy J led the field from gate to wire in Saturday’s $100,000 Heft S. at Laurel Park, drawing off with authority in the stretch to win by six lengths.
This was the second stakes victory for the well-traveled 2-year-old son of Bee Jersey, who has now made eight starts on the season since his Aug. 10 debut victory. The chestnut juvenile now has three victories and earned $157,250 for owner/breeder Built Wright Stables LLC.
Sweet Soddy J made the lead right from the break of the seven-furlong contest, guiding the field through a half-mile of :46.14. Ridden with confidence around the turn, he spurted away from the competition at the top of the stretch and was all alone the rest of the trip. He covered the distance in 1:24.04 on a fast track.
“I’m feeling good,” trainer Norman ‘Lynn’ Cash said. “The plan was to tuck in behind somebody and try to hold him back so he could finish. The horse just takes himself to the lead. Going around the corner there, as soon as I saw (jockey Jerion) Barbosa look back I knew he was resting the horse so that made me feel better. The big thing is the horse changed leads right at the top of the stretch. As soon as he changed leads I knew we were gone.”
Bee Jersey, a Grade 1-winning son of Speightstown, is the sire of seven stakes horses in 2023. He will stand the 2024 season at Darby Dan for $5,000 S&N.
