The Miguel Clement trainee wasted no time asserting himself under Manny Franco, breaking sharply from post 3 and immediately taking command with blinkers added for the first time. Comfortable through splits of :23.02 and :47.16 over rain-soaked going, Intricate Spirit traveled confidently throughout before powering away in the lane to stop the clock in 1:11.24.

“Every time he runs forwardly placed, tremendous effort,” Clement said. “The only instruction to Manny, along with the blinkers going on, was ‘go forward.’”

Franco, aboard the son of Complexity for the first time, said the gelding made things easy from the start.

“The blinkers helped him a lot. He broke out of there like a shot,” Franco said. “After that, I was comfortable on the lead with his ears pricked up. I knew they’d have to run hard to pass me.”

The performance marked a return to the scene of Intricate Spirit’s Grade 3 Futurity triumph over the same course and distance last fall.

“He’s been training lights out all winter long,” Clement said. “Physically, he’s a great specimen and has been a great addition to the stable from the get-go.”

The Paradise Creek victory adds another stakes score to Intricate Spirit’s resume and could set him up for a Saratoga campaign later this summer, with the Grade 3 Quick Call among the possibilities.

West Point campaigns Intricate Spirit in a racing partnership with Madaket Stables and Kenneth and Gail Beitz. He was acquired by Miguel’s late father, Hall of Fame inductee Christophe Clement, for $185,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale and now owns three wins, a second and a third from 7 starts and $307,200 in earnings.

Daily Racing Form recap