Celtic Contender (USA) Horse
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About
Celtic Contender is a 5yo chestnut from the United States trained by Hamilton A. Smith. It is by Irish War Cry out of Celtic Katie. Celtic Contender has recorded seven career wins. On 13 Oct 2024 at Laurel Park, it secured the $100,000 Maryland Million Sprint Stakes, its biggest triumph to date.
Race Record
| Event Summary | Runner Stats | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Colonial Downs 24-Aug-26 1207m R7 Race 7 $70,641 (of $112,128) Barrier 5, Winning Time: 01:07.910, SP: 1.67 away in GOOD order, stalked the pace in the three path, moved to challenge outside the early leader turning for home, took over, edged clear in hear track record time in a sharp effort. 1st Celtic Contender ( F Boyce 121 ) 2nd Suremeanttoobe ( M J Sanchez 123 ) 1.50L 3rd Showstopper Copper ( H Karamanos 121 ) 1.55L See full results | F Boyce 54.9kg | 1 (8) |
| Colonial Downs 02-Aug-26 1408m R7 Reigh Count Stakes (Stakes) $28,514 (of $142,572) Barrier 9, Winning Time: 01:20.140, SP: 10.00 set a pressured pace to the inside of the winner, raced in the two to three wide path on the turn and dueled for command off the turn and to the furlong marker but could not match strides with the winner by the sixteenth marker while keeping on to be second best. 1st Verifire ( M Franco 122 ) 2nd Celtic Contender ( F Boyce 122 ) 2.25L 3rd Zero Blitz ( J Ruiz 122 ) 1.50L See full results | F Boyce 55.3kg 2.25L | 2 (7) |
| Laurel Park 28-Jun-26 1207m FIRM R10 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes (Stakes) $50,761 (of $253,807) Barrier 9, Winning Time: 01:11.510, SP: 3.00 1st Hymn ( R Bejarano 126 ) 2nd Celtic Contender ( F Boyce 120 ) 5.50L 3rd Wickeddivine ( J Barbosa 120 ) 5.60L See full results | F Boyce 54.4kg 5.50L | 2 (6) |
| Laurel Park 17-May-26 1207m R8 Maryland Sprint Stakes (Stakes) $14,681 (of $209,732) Barrier 6, Winning Time: 01:10.730, SP: 4.00 broke on top, drafted back off the leading trio after a furlong, pursued three deep mid turn, angled four to five wide for the drive and failed to punch on through the final furlong. 1st Bring The Smoke ( T Gaffalione 120 ) 2nd Faust ( J L Ortiz 126 ) 0.25L 3rd Haileysfirstnotion ( J E Vargas 120 ) 0.50L 4th Celtic Contender ( F Boyce 120 ) 3.75L See full results | F Boyce 54.4kg 3.75L | 4 (7) |
| Laurel Park 29-Mar-26 1207m R7 Race 7 $57,647 (of $91,503) Barrier 1, Winning Time: 01:10.290, SP: 3.75 came in at the break, sprinted to the front, was kept in the two path under confident handling around the turn, responded when asked in upper stretch and eagerly increased his advantage while kept under pressure. 1st Celtic Contender ( F Boyce 123 ) 2nd Petingas Twin ( Y Hazlewood 123 , Cd 118 ) 3.25L 3rd S S Sinatra ( I Villalobos 123 ) 8.50L See full results | F Boyce 55.8kg | 1 (4) |