Crazy Mason Unleashes Devastating Late Kick in Carter
Light fog settled over Aqueduct Racetrack as the field of seven approached the starting gate for the $300,000 Carter Stakes (G2) April 5. However, it may have been a cover of clouds as that’s where it appeared Crazy Mason came from.
The 4-year-old Coal Front colt was a well-distanced last behind fractions of :22.37 and :44.85, settling 10 1/4 lengths back after a half-mile. His position by his lonesome allowed Manny Franco to save ground along the rail as they rounded the far turn before angling wide in the stretch with all the momentum.
Crazy Mason motored past horses, but the wire was quickly approaching with favored Quint’s Brew emerging the best of the rest. Time was running out, but Crazy Mason kept surging to win by a neck, completing seven furlongs in 1:21.95. Dilger finished third.
“The main thing is—with the way he runs—don’t panic,” Franco said. “I was trusting on the horse the whole time. … When we got to the three-eighths pole, I said, ‘Come on buddy. I need you now.’ He started running when I showed him the whip, I swung wide in the stretch and he gave me a nice kick from the quarter pole to the wire.”
The victory increased Crazy Mason’s career earnings to $375,970 for owners Donna Wright and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. He was purchased by Philip Wright for $27,500 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale.
Connections celebrate Crazy Mason’s victory in the Carter Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
Trained by Gregory Sacco, he had been targeted at the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail in his 3-year-old season, finishing sixth in the 2024 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) and seventh in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. He has now found himself a new niche being a closer around one turn, posting a 3-for-4 record since returning from a 6 1/2-month freshening.
“We were most worried if he was good enough,” said Sacco’s son and assistant, Will. “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.”
The victory continued a solid start to the 2025 season for third-crop sire Coal Front, whose 3-year-old son Coal Battle took the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park in February and is set to be a top contender in the May 3 Kentucky Derby. Coal Front is currently standing his first season in Louisiana at Red River Farms for a $2,000 fee.
Video: Carter S. Presented by NYRA Bets (G2)
Irish Maxima Keeps Winning in the Distaff
Simply put, Irish Maxima likes winning.
The 4-year-old daughter of Maximus Mischief improved her overall record to 8-for-11 and picked up her first graded triumph Saturday in the $169,750 Distaff Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct.
Irish Maxima wins the Distaff Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
Irish Maxima has been a standout performer for trainer John Servis since returning from a nine-month layoff in August, winning six of her seven starts since, including four stakes.
“She’s gotten better with every race. The time off did her a world of good,” Servis said. “She was a little—I don’t want to say speed crazy, but just very anxious. We put her away (at the end of) her 2-year-old year and freshened her up, and she came back mentally stronger, bigger, and happier. She hasn’t done anything wrong.”
Breaking a step slow from the inside post, jockey Frankie Pennington guided Irish Maxima into her customary front-running position in just a matter of strides.
Setting fractions of :23.26, :45.80, and 1:09.81, Irish Maxima separated from her four rivals entering the stretch and built up enough of an advantage to guarantee St. Benedicts Prep ‘s late rally was never a threat. She hit the wire 1 1/4 lengths clear while finishing seven furlongs in 1:22.92. Socially Selective finished third.
As the odds-on favorite, Irish Maxima paid $3.60 to win.
The victory was a first graded score for owner Irish Three Racing, which was represented by a large and joyous group in the winner’s circle. Bred in Kentucky by Pillar Property Services, Irish Maxima was purchased by Servis for $50,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. She has now earned $516,165.
The filly is the second graded winner for sire Maximus Mischief, who was represented by a graded stakes winner earlier in the day with Godolphin Mile (G2) winner Raging Torrent . The third-crop sire stands at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky for $15,000.
