Sweetnorthernsaint returns a winner

Grade 2 hero SWEETNORTHERNSAINT (Sweetsouthernsaint) only faced two rivals in

his return on Thursday, but still impressed while recording an easy 4 1/2-length

victory in Laurel Park's

8TH race.

With Ramon Dominguez in the saddle, the dark bay gelding bobbled at the start

before rushing up to take the lead. Setting a reasonable tempo of :23 2/5, :47

1/5 and 1:11 3/5, the Michael Trombetta-trained sophomore loped under the wire

to stop the clock in 1:23 3/5 for the seven-furlong, fast track

allowance/optional claiming test.

"I had no clue how fast we went," Dominguez said. "I was hoping we didn't go

too slow, but he got something out of it even though he wasn't pushing himself a

whole lot."

Sweetnorthernsaint hadn't been seen in competition since running second to

probable Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) favorite Bernardini (A.P. Indy) in the

Preakness S. (G1) on May 20. Prior to that, the Laurel-based gelding dominated

the Illinois Derby (G2) by 9 1/4 lengths before running seventh as the 5-1 favorite in

the Kentucky Derby (G1).

"I wanted to get a race under him and I didn't want a big one today,"

Trombetta explained. "He isn't ready for that. I didn't want to do too much. He

worked four times and then he got this under him. Now I am going to see how he

trains next week."

Trombetta didn't mention where his charge would show up next.

"Hopefully this didn't take anything out of him -- I don't think it did --

and then we'll move on," the conditioner added. "This was my plan and it went

well."