Month: September 2021

Indiana Grand’s Leading Quarter Horse Jockey Summarily Suspended

Samuel “Sammy” Mendez, currently the leading Quarter Horse jockey at the Indiana Grand meet in Shelbyville, Ind., has been summarily suspended and is awaiting a hearing before the track's board of stewards.

A ruling dated Sept. 15 said Mendez is “hereby summarily suspended for actions not in the best interest of racing and which compromise the integrity of operations at a racetrack.” The ruling said the infraction occurred on Sept. 4, when Mendez won with three of nine starts – all for trainer Randy M. Smith – including the $84,200 Bob Woodward Memorial Classic Stakes and the $108,591 QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Derby.

Multiple sources told the Paulick Report that Mendez is being investigated in connection with discovery of an illegal electrical device.

A hearing was originally scheduled for Sept. 20 but has been postponed while an investigation continues, according to Deena Pitman, executive director of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission.

Mendez, who was last seen in the saddle on Sept. 13, primarily rides for Smith, Indiana Grand's all-time leading Quarter Horse conditioner and leading the trainer standings there from 2015-'20.

Mendez won the 2020 Quarter Horse riding title.

Mendez has won with 38 of 138 mounts during the current meet. Smith has 62 wins from 287 starts, more than double his closest pursuer.

The most recent Quarter Horse jockey penalized for possession of an illegal electrical device at Indiana Grand was Juan Guerrero, who was suspended 10 years and fined $5,000 in 2015.

On Aug. 11, 2015, officials were tipped off that Guerrero would have an electrical device with metal prongs sticking out of holes cut in the palm of a glove while riding in the 10th race. After being stopped by security following the race, Guerrero ran off toward the jockeys room and was seen throwing an item toward the track's casino. The next day an electrical device was found in that area. One of Guerrero's gloves had two holes punched in it.

The horse Guerrero rode to victory in the race in question was Stone Toasted, trained by Randy M. Smith.

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United Returns For Title Defense In John Henry Turf Championship

One of the top turf horses in the nation over the past three years, Richard Mandella's United is back to defend his title in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship as he heads a strong field of 13 three-year-olds and up going a mile and one quarter.

Dating back to his win in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes in July of 2020, United has settled into an eight-race pattern in which he's won every other start. With a close fourth place finish in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 21 coming on the heels of a neck victory in the Eddie Read on July 24, Mandella is hoping the win-lose-win pattern holds on Saturday.

Ridden by Flavien Prat in all but two of his 18 starts with Mandella, United will again be partnered with French-born superstar in the John Henry as he readies for a third try in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar Nov. 6.

In an old school move, Mandella had United blow out three furlongs this morning in a bullet 36.40. Owned by LNJ Foxwoods, United is a 6-year-old gelding by Giant's Causeway. With five wins from 11 starts over the Santa Anita lawn, including a head defeat in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Turf, United is 21-9-4-1 overall with earnings of $1,693,549.

In what will be his fourth start for Peter Miller, Neptune's Storm comes off a close fourth place finish in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile and although he's in good form, he'll be trying a mile and one quarter for the first time. Second, beaten a half length as the 4-5 favorite in the Grade III American Stakes at one mile on turf three races back on June 20, this 5-year-old Stormy Atlantic gelding took the one mile turf restricted Wickerr in gate to wire fashion two starts back on July 18.

Owned by CYBT, Saul Gervertz, Lynn Goetz, Michael Nentwig and David Weiner, Neptune's Storm is a two-time graded stakes winner with earnings of $936,485 from an overall mark of 22-7-4-6.

In his first start for trainer Michael McCarthy, Chilean-bred Master Piece rallied from far off the pace to finish second, beaten a half length in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf and would benefit greatly from some fast early fractions on Saturday.

Front-running California-bred Acclimate tired late to finish a close third in the Del Mar Handicap, his lone start since winning the marathon Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at a mile and three quarters on turf here June 19. Trained by Phil D'Amato, this 7-year-old gelding by Acclamation, who was a close second in the 2019 John Henry, appears at the top of his game and could pose an elusive target with Ricky Gonzalez back aboard.

THE GRADE 2 JOHN HENRY WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 11 of 11 Approximate post time 5:30 p.m. PT

  1. Award Winner—Kyle Frey—126
  2. Camino Del Paraiso—Abel Cedillo—124
  3. Neptune's Storm—Florent Geroux—124
  4. United—Flavien Prat—126
  5. Ready Soul—John Velazquez–122
  6. Acclimate—Ricky Gonzalez—124
  7. Master Piece—Drayden Van Dyke—122
  8. Count of Amazonia—Victor Espinoza—122
  9. Media Blitz—Juan Hernandez—122
  10. Red King—Joe Bravo—122
  11. Cupid's Claws—Mike Smith—122
  12. Friar's Road—Umberto Rispoli—122
  13. K P All Systems Go—Tyler Baze–122

The John Henry is one of five stakes on Saturday's 11-race card with post time at 12:30 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

 

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