Jim McKay Turf Sprint 2026 (FULL RACE) | NBC Sports

They're off in the Jim McKay turf sprint. A slow start for Incinerator, but it was a quick beginning for Jean Valjean, who goes out to the early lead with four harp away, running in second, determined kingdom is third. Had to have him, is fourth on the outside by two, then chasing Liberty, followed by Outlaw Kid to the outside, six lengths off the lead. Bit of traffic for Tidewater in behind them. Being passed by card trick on the outside. Run Curtis run, who makes his run late, is near the back of the pack with Incinerator as they make their way around the turn. Jean Valjean, the leader by three quarters of a length. Four harp on the outside, second. And circling up is Had to Have Him, who swings wide for the stretch drive. Determined kingdom slips through an opening on the inside. In the center, Had to Have Him is now running in fourth. Outlaw Kid is trying to put in a bid in the back of the pack. Chasing Liberty is coming in behind horses on the inside, still wide open. They've got a 16th to go. Here's Outlaw Kid to hit the front. Chasing Liberty on the inside, second card trick. Closing late on the far outside. They're coming down to the wire, and it's going to be a photo finish that I think Chasing Liberty had his nose down on the wire, along with Outlaw Kid. It's very close between those two. Chasing Liberty to the four, Outlaw Kid the eight. Too close to call. It is. If Chasing Liberty wins it on the inside. He had a wide trip last time. Brilliant ride by Arado Ortiz Jr. That will be the difference, sitting patiently, waiting behind a wall of horses, shifting to the inside, running through a narrow hole. You can see him with a brown cap and the orange on the inside. Make a call? I'm going to go with the inside, but it's close. So that would be Chasing Liberty. Randy Moss is furiously looking at the replay next to the desk here. I think it is inside. If I was putting money on the photo, I would go on Chasing Liberty. He shifted not only through the inside of three horses right there, he also got through a tight spot inside of Outlaw Kid about a furlong earlier than that. And Outlaw Kid went around here. They finished a neck apart in the King Leatherberry, and Chasing Liberty had the wide trip. Outlaw Kid had the inside trip. Now the trips are reversed, and the order looks like it might be reversed with Chasing Liberty winning. Which is why Chasing Liberty was a shorter price than Outlaw Kid this time around. One more look at this. See if we can get a little better idea here. They still haven't put up the numbers. Arado Ortiz on the inside. Did he find a way? Regardless of whether he wins, those kind of rides is why he won five Eclipse. You just need a nose. Not an exact perfect angle in line with the finish, but it looks like it's either a win by Chasing Liberty or a dead heat. Which we have seen before on some of these undercard races. Donna, we'll go down to you. Well, I'm here with Arado. Arado, our guys think you won it, but they haven't made it official yet. Jared Bailey just said, oh, it is official now. Congratulations. Jared Bailey just said, those kind of rides are why you have five Eclipse awards. What was it about this ride? Obviously, it was a very narrow finish. It was very nice coming from him. He's one of the best in the game forever. I have a ton of respect for Gary. He was very smart. I love his replay. Thank you for that. I brake good enough and I just let my horse saddle and try to make a run last time. I think the other horse beat him because he caught the corner and he got through inside, so I tried to do the same thing. He was right next to me, and I see a hole inside, and I feel like Jose's horse was getting out, so I have a good chance to make the hole. When we make it, he give me a good kick. Congratulations. You had ridden him one time before, but coming up in the next race, the Preakness Stakes, you're riding Talk and a horse you've never ridden before. What do you expect from him? I don't know. I don't know, honestly. I just want to let him be him out there and enjoy the ride and try to ride a smart race. It's a wide-open race, I feel. I have a feeling those Eclipse Awards would indicate you'll ride a smart race. Good luck. Thank you, Donna. Thank you.