TAMPA BAY: RAUL MENA RETURNS TO RIDING AFTER FOUR-MONTH LAYOFF

By Mke Henry —-

OLDSMAR, FL. – Raul Mena felt more tired than he’d expected after riding Antonov to a third-place finish in today’s Tampa Bay Downs opener, the jockey’s first race since fracturing his left femur in an accident in a turf race here on Dec. 7.

Outside of his fatigue, which was increased by the heat and high humidity, the 30-year-old Mena said he answered the other questions that had been swirling in his mind in the days leading to his return.

“When you are out for a couple of months, or even a couple of weeks, you can feel the difference, especially in this kind of weather,” Mena said. “But you never forget what you have to do.

“I’ve been working horses now for three weeks, and there were a few times when I thought I might have to relearn something. But it’s something you never forget. After the gate opens it’s something natural for me, and it is a very special sensation.”

A product of Santiago, Chile, Mena plans to compete here through May 6 before he and his wife Jaqueline Cabral head north for the Delaware Park meet beginning May 24. After his assigned mount in Saturday’s third race, Mikes Myth, was scratched, he was chomping at the bit to get back in action.

Mena followed his first race back with a sixth-place finish on Any Minute in the third race and a seventh-place effort on Whistlewhileyoumow in the ninth on the turf, both longshots.

Mena finished 12th in the Tampa Bay Downs standings two seasons ago with 28 winners, moving his tack last winter to Aqueduct in New York, where he posted six victories. He had a solid meet last year at Delaware, finishing sixth with 39 winners, and was fifth the previous year with 38 winners.

“My goal this winter was to try to be in the top five here, but God had a different plan for me,” said Mena, who had a titanium rod inserted to keep his femur in place. “I was very frustrated not riding, but being able to come back here for the last three weeks means a lot to me.

“I’m thankful to God for helping me come back and to my wife for all she did to help with my recovery. A lot of family members and friends were calling all the time to give me support, and that helped me a lot.

“You never know what is going to happen in this career, so you have to be prepared for everything mentally and physically,” he added.

Around the oval. Vernon Bush concluded a memorable season by riding 6-year-old Florida-bred gelding Call Bros to a nose victory from onrushing Khozando in the fourth race. The 61-year-old Bush is headed to Belterra Park in Ohio for the meet beginning April 27.

Call Bros, owned by Donald Colantonio and trained by Brenda McCarthy, paid $32 to win as the longest shot in the seven-horse field. He was claimed from the race for $5,000 by trainer Rudolfo Garcia for new owner Rod Garcia, Inc.

Bush finishes here with six winners from 56 mounts, including two 25-1 shots on the March 5 card for trainer Jennifer Quinones, a former jockey who competed against Bush on the racetrack from 1978-1989. Bush also won the Randy Romero “Pure Courage” Award, which is named after the late Hall of Fame member to recognize a jockey who has overcome serious injuries and/or adversity.

The 6-year-old Florida-bred gelding Drama Chorus, who won the Florida Cup Grey Goose Turf Classic Stakes here on March 26 for the second year in a row, turned in another strong effort in today’s second race, a $29,000 allowance/optional claiming event. He rolled to a 1 ¾-length victory from Mohs in an exceptional time of 1:34.34 for the 1-mile distance on the turf.

Regular jockey Alonso Quinonez rode Drama Chorus for breeder-owner Peter D. Mattson and trainer Tim Padilla. The son of Big Drama improved to 9-for-30 on his career.

Eoin Harty saddled two winners today, extending a mini-win streak to three races after capturing Saturday’s ninth. In the first race, Harty sent out 3-year-old gelding Ski Country, a homebred racing for Godolphin and ridden by apprentice jockey Laureano Sosa. Harty added the seventh race on the turf with Insignis, another 3-year-old gelded Godolphin homebred. Jesus Castanon was aboard.

Trainer Robert G. Smith also sent out two winners. He captured the fifth race with his own 7-year-old Florida-bred mare Silver Glen, who was ridden by Marcos Meneses. Smith also won the eighth race with 5-year-old gelding Hornswoggle, owned by Caveman Stable and ridden by Samy Camacho.

That was one of two winners on the card for the track’s leading jockey, who won the third race on Tap First, a 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding owned by Averill Racing and Two Eight Racing and trained by Gerald Bennett.

For his part, Bennett, the track’s leading conditioner, added the ninth and final race on the turf with Harpoon Harry, a 5-year-old gelding owned by Mr Pug, LLC and ridden by Jose Ferrer.

Thoroughbred racing continues Wednesday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:20 p.m. Tampa Bay Downs is open every day for simulcast wagering, no-limits action and tournament play in The Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at The Downs Golf Practice Facility.

Mike Henry