Castellano Closing Ground on Saez at Keeneland
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Photo:
Eclipse Sportswire
Javier Castellano, winner of the past three Eclipse Awards as top journeyman rider in North America, is closing ground in his bid to capture a second Keeneland riding title.
“Last spring was the first time I rode a whole meet here,” said Castellano, who won his first riding title with 22 victories. “I love it here. The turf is good, the new dirt track is good. The fans are great. It is a lot like Saratoga, only shorter. Everything happens very fast here.”
Castellano picked up his 11th victory of the meet Wednesday to move to within two wins of meet leader Luis Saez.
However, with Saez riding in New York the next three days, Castellano could move into the lead by the weekend with one mount today and six Friday. Castellano will ride at Charles Town on Saturday.
GALLOPING OUT
Track records were set in the first two races on Wednesday. In the opener, Michael M. Hui’s homebred Hey Mike won a 4½-furlong maiden race in :51.36, which was 28/100ths of a second faster than Cocked and Loaded’s previous track record from April 9, 2015. Mike Maker trains the winner, a 2-year-old by Cape Blanco (IRE) and a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Nickname ridden by Javier Castellano.
The winner of the second race was Flaxman Holdings Ltd.’s homebred Tale of Life (JPN), who took the 1 1/16-mile allowance race by 4¾ lengths in 1:42.34. His time was 17/100ths of a second faster than Only in America’s former mark from Oct. 8, 2014. Drayden Van Dyke rode the winner, a 4-year-old son of Deep Impact whose second dam is champion Miesque, for trainer Graham Motion.
The victory by Lothenbach Stable’s homebred No Fault of Mine in Wednesday’s featured Claiborne Purse was not that all unexpected for Neil Pessin, who handled the 4-year-old Blame filly for trainer Chris Block.
“What a shock; she loved the turf course here,” Pessin said of the filly, who made her turf debut. “Her mother (Single Solution) won a Grade 3 here (the 2009 Pin Oak Valley View) and her aunt (Vacare) won a Grade 1 (the 2006 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup).”
Single Solution and Vacare both won for Lothenbach with Vacare coming back in 2007 under different ownership to win the First Lady (G2).
PROBABLE ENTRANTS FOR REMAINING STAKES
$150,000 BEWITCH (G3) (entries taken Tuesday, race Friday, April 29) – Achnaha (IRE), Button Down (GB), Generosidade (URU), Olorda (GER), Return to Grace.
SEC NETWORK FEATURES KEENELAND-
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY CONNECTION
The relationship between Keeneland and the University of Kentucky began more than 75 years ago and continues to grow through each entity’s commitment to excellence and enriching the commonwealth of Kentucky. Since 1940, Keeneland has donated or gifted more than $6 million to more than 30 University of Kentucky programs.
The SEC Network recently showcased the relationship as part of its “Spring Football Tour” program, highlighting how Keeneland and Kentucky football offer a unique experience during home football weekends in October. The Keeneland-UK Double, one of Central Kentucky’s most popular fall events, on selected Saturdays enables fans to attend Keeneland races during the day and UK home football game at night.
Host Peter Burns visited Keeneland and spoke with Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason and UK head football coach Mark Stoops in the “Kentucky Doubleheader,” which aired on the SEC Network and its mobile platforms. The piece ends with Burns and SEC analyst Clint Stoerner, a former college and NFL quarterback, checking out the horses in trainer Stephen Lyster’s Keeneland barn.
SPRING MEET LEADERS
Through April 20 (nine days of racing)
Jockey | Starts | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Purses |
Luis Saez | 52 | 13 | 2 | 4 | $1,064,881 |
Javier Castellano | 51 | 11 | 9 | 5 | $732,281 |
Corey Lanerie | 47 | 7 | 6 | 8 | $656,154 |
Julien Leparoux | 52 | 6 | 8 | 8 | $918,662 |
Jose Lezcano | 32 | 5 | 4 | 7 | $366,603 |
Florent Geroux | 45 | 5 | 3 | 8 | $440,018 |
Trainer | Starts | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Purses |
Mark Casse | 36 | 7 | 4 | 6 | $614,381 |
Todd Pletcher | 28 | 5 | 3 | 3 | $411,299 |
Wesley Ward | 18 | 4 | 5 | 2 | $286,604 |
Mike Maker | 19 | 4 | 2 | 2 | $108,954 |
Graham Motion | 13 | 4 | 1 | 0 | $299,755 |
Owner | Wins |
Conquest Stables LLC (Ernie Semersky and Dory Newell) | 3 |
Augustin Stable (George Strawbridge Jr.) | 2 |
W.S. Farish* | 2 |
Flying F Stables (Jack R. Frost) | 2 |
Michael M. Hui LLC | 2 |
John C. Oxley | 2 |
Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey | 2 |
*Includes partnerships.
Source: Keeneland
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