November, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Rich Strike Looks to Bolster Resume in Clark

GI Kentucky Derby upsetter Rich Strike (Keen Ice) hopes to strengthen his case for a year-end championship title as he takes on his elders in the GI Clark H. Friday at Churchill Downs.

Right now, the 3-year-old male divisional title could go any way. Taiba (Gun Runner) and Cyberknife (Gun Runner) each have a pair of Grade Is to their credit and Epicenter (Not This Time) won the GI Runhappy Travers S. In addition to finishing second in the first two legs of the Triple Crown.

Rich Strike only has one top-level score to his name, but it's a big one, taking home the roses at a whopping 80-1. Skipping the GI Preakness S., he failed to fire in the GI Belmont S. in June, but showed improvement when fourth in the Travers. The chestnut missed by just a head to the gutsy Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) in the GII Lukas Classic at this venue Oct. 1 and was fourth last out, behind third-place Taiba, in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 5 at Keeneland. Rich Strike clearly loves Churchill Downs, having broken his maiden by 17 1/4 lengths in his other start at this venue, and could put himself in the dual Grade I winner category just in time.

The Derby winner won't have it easy, however. He faces a host of talented challengers, including GII Hagyard Fayette S. romper West Will Power (Bernardini). Runner-up Fulsome (Into Mischief), a four-time Grade III winner, and third-place Last Samurai (Malibu Moon) also return here. Also worth strong consideration is Godolphin homebred Proxy (Tapit), last seen closing to be third behind Classic runner-up Olympiad (Speightstown) in the GII Stephen Foster S. at this oval July 2.

Churchill's post-Thanksgiving card also features the GII Mrs. Revere S. for 3-year-old turf fillies. GII Rubicon Valley View S. runner-up California Angel (California Chrome) tops the field, but should the Bubble Rock (More Than Ready) who won the GIII Matron S. show up this time, she could be in trouble.

Aqueduct plays host to a pair of graded events, the GIII Long Island S. for female turf routers and the GIII Comely S. for sophomore fillies on the main track. The latter features the return of dual graded winner Kathleen O. (Upstart). Opening her account with a quartet of victories, including the GII Davona Dale S. and GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, the dark bay suffered her first career defeat when rallying for fifth in the GI Kentucky Oaks and has not been seen since.

Godolphin homebred Nostalgic (Medaglia d'Oro) won a graded event at this oval in the spring, the GIII Gazelle S., and missed by a neck last out here in the GIII Turnback the Alarm H. Nov. 4.

GI Cotillion S. runner-up Morning Matcha (Central Banker) and Seneca Overnight S. one-two Sixtythreecaliber (Gun Runner) and Falconet (Uncle Mo) also return in this competitive field.

Rounding out Friday's graded action is the GII Hollywood Turf Cup S. at Del Mar.

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Study: Complications Of Eye Removal Surgery Are Low

Though it can be distressing for a horse owner to send their horse in for a surgery that will remove his eye, the surgery has minimal complications and often leaves the horse much more comfortable than before the enucleation.

English researchers reviewed the records of 170 horses in the UK that had an eye removed between August 2006 and March 2015 in eight different equine hospitals. The reasons necessitating eye removal were not specified, but surgery to remove the eye is often done to relieve chronic pain caused by fungal infections, ulcers, or ongoing uveitis issues.

The scientists also surveyed 119 of the owners on their satisfaction with the surgical outcome.

They discovered that 86 percent of horse owners who were worried about having the surgery done did not have any issues with their horse after the surgery was completed; 90.8 percent of owners were pleased with the surgery's outcome. In addition, 21 percent of owners of horses with eyes removed wished they had done the surgery sooner.

The team also discovered that 77.3 percent of the study horses returned to their previous level or a higher level of performance after having an eye removed.

New Careers: Jose Santos

Jose Santos hasn't ridden in more than 15 years, but he never wanted to leave the racetrack. But finding the right role proved to be difficult. He sold feed for a number of years but said he was losing money because so many people would not pay their bills. But about a month ago, Santos, 61, found something new, signing on with Enviro Equine as a salesman. He says it's a good fit.

“I like it because it allows me to mingle with people from racetrack,” Santos said. “I went to the sales in Kentucky and have been visiting trainers and farms where I live in Florida. I am selling supplements and vitamins for the horses. It's good for them. They are good products.”

Enviro Equine calls itself a “farm-to-stable” operation, focused on sustainable practices for animals and the planet, working only with suppliers committed to sustainability and excellence.

Santos's career ended on Feb. 1, 2007 when he was involved in a spill at Aqueduct, which resulted in five broken vertebrae, a broken sternum and several broken ribs. He had planned on riding another four years, retiring when he was 50. But his doctor advised against that.

“That was a tough way to go out,” he said. “I was planning to ride until I was 50, so my career was cut short a little bit. The doctor told me the best thing was for me to retire, but that I should make my own decision. I called my mother and told her I had two spills back to back. My mother said don't wait for the third one. I quit. I had done enough. I was 46. I made the right decision.”

Santos began his career in his native Chile before moving on to Colombia. He came to the U.S. in 1984. He led all jockeys in earnings from 1986 through 1989 and in 1988 he won the Eclipse Award as the sport's top jockey. Santos won 4,083 races, including the 2003 GI Kentucky Derby and the 2003 GI Preakness S. with Funny Cide (Distorted Humor) and the 1999 GI Belmont with Lemon Drop Kid (Kingmambo). He also won seven Breeders' Cup races and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.

He says that Criminal Type (Alydar) was the best horse he ever rode. In 1990 Santos teamed up with Criminal Type to win the GI Pimlico Special, the GI Metropolitan H., the GI Hollywood Gold Cup and the GI Whitney H. Trained by Wayne Lukas, Criminal Type was named 1990 Horse of the Year.

Six months after the 2007 spill, he announced his retirement, saying that if he had another accident the fear was that he would no longer be able to walk. For the first few years after he quit Santos said he just took it easy, enjoying his retirement. About five years ago, he went into the feed business, which was not for him.

“I got into the wrong business,” he said. “I was selling feed. There were a lot of people good people and they paid me. But a lot of people didn't pay me and I got in a hole. Instead of keep losing money, I stopped.”

He still finds time to follow the sport and says he enjoys watching races on television with his 9-year-old son. What does he think of today's riders?

“It's a great group of jockeys and there are a lot of really good young riders like the Ortiz brothers,” he said “I also like Manny Franco. You still have Johnny (Velazquez) and (Joel) Rosario. Tyler Gaffalione is a tremendous rider.”

What's changed, Santos said, is that the current crop of riders can get reckless.

“It is a different era,” he said. “They ride completely different from way we used to ride. They are a little careless. We used to take care of each other. If somebody was having a problem, we'd give you a shot. Now, there is a lot of bumping. They have the stewards working harder now. It's a different time. The money is not good, it's great. If I were riding now, I'd probably be riding the same way they do.”

The spill might have cost him a few years, but it didn't take away from all that he accomplished.

“I had a great career,” Santos said. “I rode for 31 years and I made it in the big time in New York. I won an Eclipse Award and I won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont. The best thing of all was that I was inducted into the Hall of Fame. I was very happy with my whole career.”

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Stakes Winner Mea Domina Joins Arqana’s Vente d’Elevage

Listed winner Mea Domina (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) (lot 220) is a late addition to the Arqana Vente d'Elevage on Dec. 3. A dual winner, she will be offered by trainer Jerome Reynier. The daughter of the multiple stakes-placed Regina Mundi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) won the Listed Prix Isola Bella at Saint-Cloud this term. She is also a half-sister to G3 Prix d'Aumale heroine Rocques (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}), the stakes-placed King Pacha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), and the multiple Group 3-placed Omnia Munda Mundis (GB) (Australia {GB}). The wildcard is also from the family of GI Sword Dancer S. hero Quaternion Eagle (Aus) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Deauville's breeding stock sale will run from Dec. 3-6.

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