Rosario Scores Win on First Day Back at Keeneland
Jockey Joel Rosario scored his first win on his first day back since being sidelined by injury on Feb. 20 at Gulfstream Park when he rode Michael B. Tabor’s 3-5 favorite No Hiding Place to a three-length victory in the $66,000 St. George Purse on Wednesday afternoon at Keeneland before 8,477 fans.
Trained by Wesley Ward, No Hiding Place covered six furlongs on a sealed sloppy track in 1:08.98, just 30/100ths of a second slower than the track record set by champion Runhappy in the 2015 TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).
No Hiding Place is a four-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Munnings who was fifth in Keeneland’s Commonwealth (G3) on April 9. Wednesday’s victory marked his fourth win in five starts. He earned $39,600 to push his career earnings to $100,740.
The winner paid $3.20, $2.60 and $2.10. Runner-up Tiger Tank paid $4.80 and $3.80 under Corey Lanerie. Wake Up Joe, who finished 2¼ lengths behind in third with Florent Geroux aboard, returned $3.40.
The victory came on Rosario’s second mount of the day at Keeneland. In the fourth race, he finished fourth aboard Price too High, also trained by Ward.
Thursday is the penultimate day of Keeneland’s 16-day Spring Meet. The nine-race program begins at 1:05 p.m. ET.
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The winner of Wednesday’s fourth race was first-time starter Capt. Grider, a 2-year-old son of Astrology named for the late Capt. Tony Grider. A 16-year veteran of the Campbellsville, Ky., Fire Department, Grider died in September 2014 from injuries sustained while helping students at Campbellsville University perform the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Owner Dante Zanelli Jr. trains Capt. Grider, who won the 4½-furlong race by a head in :51.70.
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The 4½-furlong track record fell for the third time during the 2016 Spring Meet when P.R. Laird and trainer Eoin Harty’s Drafted won the second race in :50.45. Mitchell Murrill rode the 2-year-old colt by Field Commission to a 2¾-length victory over the filly Spellker. His time was 40/100ths of a second faster than the previous mark set by Lady Aurelia on April 21.
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When racing resumes Thursday, Keeneland will offer a Super High Five carryover of $4,563.
Source: Keeneland