Faith, it is often said, can move mountains. And while 7-year-old gelding Chess Master didn't displace any geographical features in his second consecutive Turf Dash victory on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, he amply rewarded the confidence placed in him by his owner-trainer, Kerri Raven.
“That was the most beautiful race he has ever run in terms of literally handing it to (the competition),” Raven said after the Florida-bred son of Overdriven out of Chesty, by Chester House, turned in a gate-to-wire masterpiece under jockey Antonio Gallardo, winning by 4 ¾ lengths from Full Disclosure. The 2-1 co-favorite, Fluid Situation, was a neck back in third in the 11-horse field, with Sigiloso fourth.
“Oh my God, he just crushed them. He just loves running. I'm going to watch this replay a lot,” Raven said. “That was so gorgeous. He just needed a clean trip.”
Chess Master's time of 54.78 seconds for the 5-furlong distance on the Oldsmar turf course was .78 seconds faster than his 2022 Turf Dash time and .81 seconds off the stakes and course record set by Faction Cat in 2020. The victory boosted his record to 13-for-40, with first-place winnings of $60,000 raising his career bankroll to $354,425.
Chess Master paid $15.80 to win.
Although Chess Master had failed to win in his five previous starts, Raven transmitted her confidence in him to Gallardo, who followed her instructions and never doubted the accuracy of her belief once the gate opened, a bit later than expected after the late scratch of Classicstateofmind.
“She told me to break good and that's what I did,” Gallardo said of Chess Master, who was claimed by Raven here in January of 2021 for $32,000. “I could tell how good he was feeling in the post parade and he was good in the gate. In the beginning I thought we were maybe going a bit too fast (the opening quarter-mile in 21.14 seconds), but when I hit him at about the 3/8-mile pole, he responded. I thought, I don't think anybody can get to him.
“I really didn't do nothing, just go 'smooch, smooch, smooch,' ” Gallardo added.
On Sunday, Raven's big weekend continued when jockey Jesus Castanon made a successful return from injury aboard Kitchen Fire, an 8-year-old gelding from Raven's barn. Castanon had ridden Chess Master to victory in the 2022 edition of the Turf Dash, but with uncertainty surrounding Castanon's expected return from a fractured left fibula incurred on Jan. 8, Raven turned to Antonio Gallardo to ride Chess Master in this year's Turf Dash.
Castanon, who turns 50 on March 4, proved to be a fast healer. After undergoing surgery by Dr. Anthony Infante of Brandon to insert a rod and three screws in the bone, Castanon was pronounced “ready to go” for Sunday's seventh race on Kitchen Fire,
In storybook fashion, Castanon, whose career total of 2,683 victories includes the 2011 Preakness on Shackleford, rode Kitchen Fire to a 2-length victory from Imtakinittothebank in the 5 ½-furlong starter/optional claiming event.
Relatively speaking, the stakes weren't that high financially. But Castanon admitted this one was special.
“I'm glad to be back on the team,” said the Mexico City product, who scored his 12th victory of the meet. “I was pretty pumped up today. Whenever you go through injuries like this, you're a little nervous coming back, but once I got back on the horse it came back naturally.
“I have to thank Dr. Infante for helping me return so soon,” Castanon added.
Raven knew Castanon was his old self when she received a video message from Castanon undergoing “therapy.” It showed him vacuuming the house under the watchful eye of his wife, former jockey Rolanda Simpson.
“We've done very well together, and it's great to have him back,” Raven said. “I didn't even have to worry because he is just naturally light, fit and dedicated.”
The post $32,000 Claim Chess Master’s Repeat Win In Tampa Turf Dash Tops Two-Win Weekend For Owner-Trainer Kerri Raven appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
