Sharp Humor Game Upsets Noonmark

Longshot Sharp Humor put himself on the fringes of the 2006 Triple Crown trail on Saturday with a game neck victory over 7/5 favorite Noonmark in the 7-furlong Swale Stakes-G2 at Gulfstream Park - and he did it the hard way.

Dueling outside 4-1 Praying For Cash through good fractions of 22.03, 45.08, the 13-1 Sharp Humor shook that rival entering the stretch and was almost immediately taken on and headed by favorite Noonmark. The latter actually got his nose in front in the stretch after six furlongs in 1:09.23 but couldn’t hold as Sharp Humor dug in gamely to take the lead back and hold safe to the wire. The final time for the seven furlongs over a fast Gulfstream strip was 1:22.14. Court Folly rallied for third, 2 ½ lengths behind Noonmark.

The winner paid $29.60, 10.80, $6.80.

Ridden by Mark Guidry, Sharp Humor’s performance was even better than it looked, considering the fact that he was coming into the race off a 4 ½ month layoff and taking a big jump up in class after scoring in a pair of restricted stakes at Belmont Park last fall. It was a brilliant piece of conditioning by trainer Dale Romans, who has been scoring with layoff types at a 24 percent clip of late.

Noonmark may not have had the smoothest of trips under jockey Shaun Brigmohan, but he still had no serious excuse after stalking a duel from the inside. Noonmark appeared to be bumping early in the race and also appeared to be in a mild vice on the turn, but made himself some room in mid turn at the expense of Beacon Shine, who was forced to steady mildly as Noonmark came over into his path. The rider aboard Beacon Shine lodged a claim of foul against the rider of Noonmark for interference, but it was not upheld by the Stewards.

The race was marred by the breakdown of Catcominatcha, who was in good position inside and back of the pacesetters early before taking a bad step and pulling up lame on late backstretch.

A son of Distorted Humor-Bellona by Hansel, Sharp Humor has yet to show that he can come from off the pace, something that will likely be required by the winner of the 132nd Kentucky Derby, but he has certainly proven his courage under fire. The latter attribute will likely earn him a shot at one of two Kentucky Derby preps, the Blue Grass on April 15 or the Lexington Stakes on April 22.

While his gutsy no-breather performance in the Swale Stakes could set him up for a bounce in his whichever Derby prep he chooses, Sharp Humor could still make it to the big show with a decent performance. And if she shows any ability to come from off the pace in his final prep – especially if he rallies and hangs, he would at least have to be considered a live Derby longshot.