Keeneland Barn Notes — April 14
By Amy Owens —-
SUNDAY, APRIL 14
Keeneland’s 16-day Spring Meet runs through Friday, April 26.
First post is at 1 p.m. ET except April 26, when the first race is at 12:30 p.m.
Keeneland is closed for racing Mondays and Tuesdays.
JENNY WILEY BEAT GOES ON FOR TRAINER CHAD BROWN
ENCINO PASSES DIRT TEST IN STONESTREET LEXINGTON
HARGROVE MAKES RIDING DEBUT AT KEENELAND
SPRING MEET LEADERS
SECOND WEEK SPECIAL EVENTS
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JENNY WILEY BEAT GOES ON FOR TRAINER CHAD BROWN
Before Saturday’s 36th running of the Jenny Wiley (G1), trainer Chad Brown had won the race six times. Five winners were betting favorites. The sixth, Sistercharlie (IRE), was the second choice of the public and the most fancied of three Brown runners who just happened to finish 1-2-3 in the 2018 race.
After Saturday’s race, Brown had another statistical tidbit to put on his Jenny Wiley resume: largest mutuel payoff for a winner.
Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Louis Lazzinnaro’s Beaute Cachee (FR) proved uncatchable under a masterful ride from Frankie Dettori to reward her fans with a $53.68 payoff for a $2 investment.
“We had a 7-2, a 9-2 and a 13-1 and who wins it? The 25-1,” said Baldo Hernandez, who is overseeing the Keeneland string for Brown. “They are all good this morning.”
Surge Capacity finished fourth, Fluffy Socks was sixth and Gina Romantica was seventh.
Brown left Keeneland after the race to go to Florida with a scheduled stop this week in Ocala. He is to return to Keeneland on Thursday for a scheduled Saturday work from Toyota Blue Grass (G1) winner Sierra Leone.
Beaute Cachee won the Jenny Wiley by 1½ lengths over favored English Rose (IRE).
“She showed good speed, ran strong and was very professional,” trainer Charlie Appleby said of English Rose, who is owned by Godolphin. “It was a good learning experience for us. She is a carbon copy of With The Moonlight (IRE) (who was second in the Jenny Wiley last year). We need to bring a little sharper filly next year.”
Appleby, who was headed back to England today along with jockey William Buick, said English Rose would remain in the U.S. Her next target is the $500,000 Just a Game (G1) going a mile or the New York (G1) Presented by Rivers Casino going 1 3/16 miles. Both are scheduled for June 7 at Saratoga.
Before leaving Keeneland, Appleby sent Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) winner Master of The Seas (IRE) to the all-weather training track for light exercise.
“We are looking at the ($500,000) Fourstardave (G1) next for him,” Appleby said of the mile race at Saratoga on Aug. 10. “(For Maker’s Mark Mile runner-up) Naval Power (GB), we are looking strongly at running him at Churchill Downs (in the 1 1/8-mile, $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic-G1 on May 4.).”
Finishing third in the Jenny Wiley was Didia (ARG) for the partnership of Merriebelle Stable and Resolute Racing.
“She came out of the race well,” trainer Ignacio Correas IV said. “I don’t think she liked the ‘good’ ground. I doubt she will go to Churchill (for the $750,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile-G2 on May 4).”
ENCINO PASSES DIRT TEST IN STONESTREET LEXINGTON
Godolphin’s Encino passed his first test racing on dirt with flying colors Saturday when he posted a three-quarter length victory in the Stonestreet Lexington (G3).
The victory gave trainer Brad Cox his third consecutive win in the race and fourth overall.
Like Cox’s 2019 winner Owendale, Encino received much of his early education from Cox assistant Tessa Walden.
“This one is faster,” Walden said of Encino. “Owendale got started earlier as a 2-year-old at Ellis Park, and he was a bigger horse and took more time to develop. Encino is lighter, quick on his feet – almost cat-like.”
Owendale wound up earning more than $1.5 million in his career with three Grade 3 wins, seven graded stakes placings and a third in the Preakness (G1) following his Stonestreet Lexington victory.
“We got Encino late as a 2-year-old at Turfway Park,” Walden said of the Northern Kentucky facility that has an all-weather track. “I was pretty confident in him before his first start. With the Godolphin pedigree, there is a good chance they will be pretty good.”
Encino is scheduled to join Cox’s main string at Churchill Downs this week.
With his Stonestreet Lexington victory, Encino moved into 21st place on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Following the defection Sunday morning of No More Time, Encino moved to No. 19 and a guaranteed spot in the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 4 at Churchill Downs should his connections decide to enter.
HARGROVE MAKES RIDING DEBUT AT KEENELAND
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Camila Hargrove was all smiles after making her career riding debut Saturday in Keeneland’s first race aboard Gayla Rankin’s Stuck On You. The two finished seventh in a field of 11 older fillies and mares racing 5½ furlongs on dirt for trainer Wesley Ward.
“It was awesome,” Hargrove said about the experience. “It happened so quickly. We came out of the gate, and I tried to get to the front and do the best I could. I can’t wait to do it again.”
Hargrove, 22, was born in Brussels, Germany. Her family moved to the U.S., and she lived in Virginia and Florida. She grew up riding horses and did barn chores to pay for riding lessons.
“I never thought I’d be doing this,” she said about riding racehorses. “I graduated high school, and Googled “What can little people do?” and a jockey came up.”
After high school, Hargrove attended Lexington’s North American Racing Academy, founded by Racing Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron to instruct aspiring jockeys. She was unable to finish the program, however, after sustaining an injury that required surgery. Hargrove then went to Florida to rebuild her strength working with young horses for trainer Niall Brennan. He put her in contact with trainer Shug McGaughey, and she moved to New York to spend 1½ years as a McGaughey exercise rider.
Hargrove and Ward met one winter at Payson Park training center in Florida, and Ward approached her about becoming a freelance rider for him. After finishing her work with McGaughey, she joined Ward’s team at Keeneland a little more than a week ago, which led her to her mount yesterday.
“He’s just trying to help me get started, and I’m very grateful for it,” she said about Ward, a former jockey who won the 1984 Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice and oversees a training operation based here. Ward is the Spring Meet’s leading trainer with six wins.
Hargrove is overjoyed to begin her riding career at Keeneland. (Her first name on her official record is “Camile.”)
“To have had my first ride here at Keeneland, I would have never even imagined,” she said. “This is great, and I’m so grateful to be here and to be a part of all of this.”
On Sunday, Hargrove had her second opportunity to ride in a race. In Race 1, she finished third aboard Starry Night Racing’s first-time starter Trotter for trainer Kent Sweezey.
SECOND WEEK SPECIAL EVENTS
Through Aug. 16
Keeneland Library is recognizing this year’s historic running of the Toyota Blue Grass at its free exhibit, A Rite of Spring: The 100th Running of the Blue Grass Stakes. The exhibit features photographs that capture race highlights curated from Keeneland Library collections and public submissions from professional and amateur photographers along with memorabilia from noted jockeys Bill Shoemaker, Mike Manganello and Chris Antley and celebrated runners Whirlaway, Riva Ridge, Spectacular Bid and Strike the Gold.
Open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Library is located on the Keeneland campus. Enter Keeneland at Gate 1 on Keeneland Blvd. and take the first right on Entertainment Ct. The Library is to the left of the Keene Barn and Entertainment Center.
Sunday
The Hill. Keeneland’s popular tailgating area is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the Spring Meet, weather permitting. No ticket or reservation is required for The Hill, located adjacent to the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center and accessible via Gate 1 (at Man o’ War Blvd.) or Gate 4 (off Van Meter Road on the east side of Keeneland).
Fans on The Hill can watch the racing action via a jumbo TV and place their bets in a wagering tent while they enjoy live music presented by The Burl, food trucks and handicapping assistance from BETologists. Complimentary shuttles to the track are offered.
For fans who want to elevate their experience, Keeneland again is partnering with RevelXP to offer tailgate packages for groups of any size. RevelXP will organize tailgates by furnishing a designated tent, catering, amenities and more. Visit Keeneland.com/tailgating for full details.
The Hill is open from 8 a.m. to 60 minutes after the last race. Amenities are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Keeneland Shop is open from 9 a.m. to 30 minutes following the final race. Milliners Corner, Wagering Central and Finish Line locations also are open on race days.
Sunday, April 14
Heroes Day. Event honors members of the military (active duty and veterans), first responders, health care workers and their families. Heroes and their families will receive free general admission, reserved Grandstand seating and a complimentary meal at the North Terrace provided by Marriott Griffin Gate. The day will have special programming on the track, including a flag rollout by the Henry Clay High School Junior ROTC and the singing of “God Bless America” by Dr. Everett McCorvey, and honoree recognitions in the Winner’s Circle.
A POW-MIA Chair of Honor will be displayed near the Paddock to bring awareness to past and current POW-MIA military members through a partnership with The Rolling Thunder Kentucky Chapter 5.