May, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Sixth Horse Dies During Churchill Spring Meet With Derby Day Racing Fatality

Chloe's Dream, a 3-year-old gelding owned by Rocket Ship Racing and trained by Jeff Hiles, became the sixth fatality of the Churchill Downs spring meet after he was injured in the Kentucky Derby day program's second race on Saturday and subsequently euthanized.

Settled near the back of the field of nine 3-year-old maidens going 1 1/16 miles on the main dirt track, Chloe's Dream was pulled up by jockey Corey Lanerie just after rounding the first turn. The horse was taken off the track by horse ambulance and euthanized, according to NBC.

The son of Honor Code was making his second career start after a third-place finish in his debut March 24 on the synthetic Tapeta track at Gulfstream Park. Bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corp., Chloe's Dream was a $12,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase.

Chloe's Dream is the first horse to suffer a fatal injury while racing on the Churchill main track this spring but the sixth known death since Wild On Ice, pointing to the Kentucky Derby, sustained a catastrophic injury while training on the morning of April 27 and could not be saved.

Two horses trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. collapsed and died after racing. Parents Pride did not finish her race on the opening night program April 29 and was taken off by horse ambulance and then died. Chasing Artie, beaten 28 3/4 lengths in a turf sprint on May 2, suffered a similar fate.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission subsequently suspended Joseph's right to enter horses in Kentucky, pending an investigation into the deaths, and his Derby entrant, Lord Miles, along with several other horses, were scratched. Churchill Downs also issued a ban on Joseph from its tracks.

Code of Kings, a 3-year-old gelding trained by Tim Glyshaw, died after flipping in the paddock before an April 29 race and breaking his neck.

On May 2, D. Wayne Lukas-trained Take Charge Briana, a 3-year-old Curlin filly, was injured at the top of the stretch of a 1 1/16-mile turf race, vanned off, and euthanized.

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No Immediate Plans For Pretty Mischievous Following Oaks

'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) was none the worse for her tough-trip victory in Friday's GI Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs as a group of onlookers congregated outside the barn of trainer Brendan Walsh Friday morning. It was a first win in America's premier race for the sophomore filly set for her owner/breeder Godolphin, Walsh, jockey Tyler Gaffalione and her all-conquering sire.

“We are very proud of what she has accomplished and it couldn't be more special winning this for Godolphin,” said Walsh, who spent many seasons working in Dubai for Sheikh Mohammed's team. “There are some big races that we'll look at coming up, but no decision has been made on her next start.”

Repole Stables' New York-bred Gambling Girl (Dialed In) covered herself in glory Friday afternoon, running on strongly to complete the Oaks exacta, the fifth filly to finish runner-up in the race for trainer Todd Pletcher to go along with his four winners.

“She was just excellent after the race,” Pletcher said. “She came out of it well.”

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Fluffy Socks Splits Rivals, Powers Clear In Churchill Distaff Turf Mile

Owned by Sol Kumin's Head of Plains Partners, Fluffy Socks put in a brave performance to capture Saturday's Grade 2, $500,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard. The 9-2 second choice, Fluffy Socks and Irad Ortiz, Jr. bulled their way between rivals at the head of the lane and powered clear to defeat 4-5 favorite Spendarella by a length on the wire. Trained by Chad Brown, the 5-year-old daughter of Slumber ran a mile over the firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:35.53.

“Turning for home I waited as long as I could,” Ortiz said. “When she hit the clear she was full of power.”

Fluffy Socks paid $11.96 for the victory, her first since October of 2021. Bred in Kentucky by her owner, Fluffy Socks was named by Kumin's son. The mare is out of the unplaced Kitten's Joy mare Breakfast Time, and has now improved her record to five wins, seven seconds, and two thirds from 18 starts for career earnings of $994,580.

Well off the inside rail, Haughty set the early pace with favorite Spendarella about a length back in second and longshot Sharp Hero in third along the inside. Ortiz had Fluffy Socks in fifth, just behind stablemate and last year's winner of this race, Speak of the Devil. Haughty set fractions of :23.62 and :47.81 before keeping off the inside rail heading into the stretch. That left a spot open for Sharp Hero to try to make a bid on the inside, and forced Spendarella about four paths off the rail turning into the lane, with Speak of the Devil to her outside.

Ortiz waited for a clear path to open up, and managed to squeeze Fluffy Socks through a narrow gap between Spendarella and Haughty with an eighth of a mile to run. A strong rally kept Fluffy Socks running all the way through the wire, defeating Spendarella by a length. Speak of the Devil checked in third, while late-running Wakanaka finished fourth. Sharp Hero and Haughty completed the order of finish.

Owner/breeder Sol Kumin (pink jacket) and his son lead Fluffy Socks into the winner's circle after the G2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile.

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Matareya Takes Derby City Distaff, Champion Good Night Olive Hard-Luck Third

Godolphin's homebred Matareya took over from Travel Column at the head of the stretch and then prevailed through the stretch drive by a length over Wicked Halo to win the $750,000 Derby City Distaff (G1) for older fillies and mares, the first of nine stakes on the Kentucky Derby Day card Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Flavien Prat, Matareya covered the seven furlongs in 1:21.87 over a fast main track. It is the second victory in the race for Prat, who won in 2016 aboard Taris.

Travel Column set the pace with Matareya just off her flank through an opening quarter-mile in :22.07 with Wicked Halo three wide and 1-2 favorite Goodnight Olive in fourth tucked in behind the top trio.

Matareya grabbed the lead at the head of the lane with Wicked Halo to her outside. As Travel Column began to retreat, Goodnight Olive split horses to move to third but never could get off the rail as she and Wicked Halo raced side by side in tight quarters.

Matareya is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Pioneerof the Nile out of the Bernardini mare Innovative Idea. The Derby City Distaff is the second Grade 1 victory for Matareya, who improved her record to 6-3-1 from 11 career starts and boosted her earnings to $1,366,550 with Saturday's $460,350 check.

Matareya returned $12.12. Wicked Halo, with Tyler Gaffalione aboard, finished a length in front of Goodnight Olive under Irad Ortiz Jr.

It was another 3¼ lengths back to Hot and Sultry, who was followed in order by My Destiny and Travel Column.

DERBY CITY DISTAFF QUOTES

Flavien Prat, jockey, Matareya, winner: “We really liked our (post) position. That was a key to it. She broke sharp and I was able to get her right in the race.”

Brad Cox, trainer, Matareya, winner: “It was a very big effort. I'm very proud of her. Flavien (Prat) did a really good job of getting her into position. There were some really good fillies in there.”

Irad Ortiz Jr., jockey, Goodnight Olive, third: “I was stuck, the entire way. I had no place to go. I couldn't get out of there. I had tons of horse, just no place to go.”

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