July 24, 2025
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Going My Way
Back-to-back allowance wins between January and February inspired Crazy Mason’s connections to test the graded stakes waters in April’s Grade 2 Carter.
The decision proved prudent, as the Gregory Sacco trainee soared back for the score by a neck.
While Crazy Mason’s hot streak ended with a third in the True North (G3) last time out, the 4-year-old colt eyes ‘Just One More Chance’ in Saturday’s $400,000 Bing Crosby (G1) at Del Mar.
Standing at 5-2-3 through 14 lifetime starts, Crazy Mason has made a habit out of landing in the money.
With his sights set much higher Saturday, the Manuel Franco mount enters at 6-1.
655,200 Minutes
Call it 15 months or 455 days, but that’s how much time passed between the end of Nysos’ 2024 season and beginning of 2025.
The lightly raced 4-year-old earned the break after successfully capturing the Robert B. Lewis (G3) on Feb. 3, 2024, only to return this past May (also the 3rd) and finish second in the Churchill Downs (G1).
Some 28 days later, and most recently, Nysos was triumphant in the Triple Bend (G3) – a 5 ½-length tally.
Now that we’re all caught up, the Bob Baffert trainee is coming back for more Saturday in the $300,000 San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar.
An unconventional career path hasn’t thrown oddsmakers off Nysos’ scent, as the three-time graded stakes winner opens as the clear 3-5 choice.
GDP for Me
Sovereignty’s next opportunity to lay claim to another graded stakes title comes this Saturday in the $500,000 Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga.
Already two-thirds an American Triple Crown winner (Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Belmont), Sovereignty can vault his already remarkable 2025 campaign to historic levels by adding a fourth graded trophy – and exceeding $5 million in prize money (enters with $4.8 million).
It will not be a cakewalk, however, as the five-horse contingent also features standout performers Baeza (3-1; third in Kentucky Derby and Belmont), Sandman (6-1; Grade 1 Arkansas Derby champion), Mo Plex (10-1; Grade 3 Ohio Derby and Sanford), and Hill Road (12-1; Grade 3 Peter Pan winner).
Sovereignty leads the way early at 2-5.
Land of the Oaks
When Fondly lines up in the starting gate for Saturday’s $250,000 Monmouth Oaks (G3), it will be the 3-year-old filly’s fourth consecutive start in an “Oaks” event.
After opening the stretch with a commanding score in the Virginia Oaks (Mar. 15), she cooled off with a tough 11th-place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks (May 2), but quickly reignited with a dominant 3-length gate-to-wire victory in the Delaware Oaks (G3) last time out.
Through it all, Fondly has been a welcome surprise for the ownership group who purchased her for $50,000 in 2023.
Heading into the Monmouth Oaks at 5-2, Fondly stands at 3-0-0 with nearly $340,000 in the bank.
Rising Portfolio
After a strong debut at the graded stakes level last time out, Tiz Her Money is looking to cash in from post eight in Saturday’s $150,000 Ontario Colleen (G3T) at Woodbine.
While her courageous comeback effort fell 2 ½ lengths short of front-leading Serendipity in June’s Selene (G3T), Tiz Her Money outperformed her billing as the fourth choice in the field of eight.
The Mark Casse charge has made significant strides following a difficult first three starts to her 2024 campaign (fifth, fourth, DNF), landing in the money in four of five subsequent starts (2-2-0).
Tiz Her Money finds herself firmly in the mix, opening at 6-1.