Churchill Downs | Horse Racing Free Tips

Necker Island Scores First Stakes Win In Bet On Sunshine

The Scherr Boys' Necker Island, who finished ninth in last year's Kentucky Derby, narrowly prevailed in a three-horse photo for the win in Saturday's 13th running of the $300,000 Bet On Sunshine at Churchill Downs to beat Mucho by a head with Sir Alfred James another neck back in third.

Ridden by Mitchell Murrill for trainer Chris Hartman, Necker Island ran six furlongs in 1:09.22 over a fast track to give the jockey and conditioner their third win together on the 11-race program.

It was Necker Island's first career stakes win, but he has proven fruitful for owner Wayne Scherr after he and other partners claimed the horses for $100,000 on June 13, 2020. Since then, Necker Island finished third in the $300,000 Grade 3 Indiana Derby and $200,000 Ellis Park Derby, which led to a start in the 2020 Kentucky Derby. This was his third victory in seven starts this year.

The win was worth $183,450 and improved Necker Island's career earnings to $565,532 with a record of 5-1-4 in 18 starts.

Necker Island returned $9.40, $4.20, and $3.20 as the 7-2 third betting choice. Mucho, the 5-2 favorite under Rey Gutierrez, paid $3.40 and $3.20. Sir Alfred James, ridden by John McKee, paid $5 to show. Bango, Long Weekend and Atoka completed the order of finish.

Sir Alfred James and Rough Entry battled for the early lead in the field of eight older horses through a first quarter mile in :21.66 as Necker Island raced in fifth along the inside. Necker Island had to check entering the turn as Sir Alfred James and Mucho left the turn vying for the lead in :45.01. Necker Island continued to race along the rail, wore down those rivals, and got up at the wire.

“I saw there was a lot of speed in this race so I wanted to let my horse settle,” Murrill said. “He settled very well up the backside and I had a lot of horse turning for home. I'm really proud of his effort and the Hartman team did a great job getting him ready.”

The race was spoiled by an incident on the turn when Vertical Threat, ridden by Adam Beschizza, and Rough Entry, with Brian Hernandez Jr. up, fell. Both jockeys walked to the onsite ambulance and were examined onsite by EMTs. Rough Entry was corralled by the outriders. Vertical Threat was vanned off.

Necker Island is a 4-year-old son of Hard Spun out of the Mr. Greeley mare Jenny's Rocket and was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Stables.

Racing at Churchill Downs continues Sunday with a 10-race card that begins at 1 p.m. (all times Eastern). Sunday is Military Appreciation Day with free admission or a discounted $29 ticket to Skye Terrace for active and retired members of the U.S. armed services.

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Racing Insights for Saturday, Nov. 6

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

8th-GP, $55K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 4:02 p.m. ET
Some two years after his half-brother Spun to Run (Hard Spun) dominated the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Sabana Farm homebred Practical Way (Practical Joke) makes his debut for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. Also responsible for stakes winner Tap It All (Tapizar), SW dam Yawkey Way (Grand Slam) sold to Gainesway and Whisper Hill Farm for $600,000 last Keeneland November while carrying a full brother to Spun to Run. Joseph will also send out A. P.'s Secret (Cupid), a $95,000 FTKSEL yearling to $150,000 OBSAPR 2-year-old off a :10 2/5 breeze. He is a half to the precocious and stakes-placed Flying Aletha (Tiznow) and a grandson of MSW/MGSP Afleet Deceit (Northern Afleet). TJCIS PPs

8th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 6:05 p.m. ET
Stonestreet Stables LLC's $600,000 Keeneland September 2020 acquisition Bombdiggity (Into Mischief) makes her first start here on behalf of conditioner Steve Asmussen. The daughter of stakes-placed Checkupfromzneckup (Dixie Union) is a half to five-for-five 'TDN Rising Star' Carribean Caper (Speightstown), who was most recently a six-length winner of the GIII Dogwood S. here Sept. 25; and to a Tapit yearling filly who sold for $990,000 at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga. She hails from the female family of A.P. Indy, et al.

The Brad Cox barn will send out a pair of well-related newcomers of its own. Godolphin homebred Hidden Wonder (Curlin) was produced by a Tapit half-sister to champion 3-year-old and late Darley stallion Bernardini (A.P. Indy). Savo Island (Quality Road), meanwhile, was a $220,000 KEESEP RNA who will carry the colors of Qatar Racing. She is a full-sister to Grade I-winning juvenile and freshman sire Klimt. MSP dam Inventive Dixie Union) sold for $380,000 at KEENOV '19 carrying a City of Light (Quality Road) colt who subsequently brought $435,000 this Keeneland September from the BSW/Crow Colts Group for which Cox will train. Savo Island is bred on the extremely potent Quality Road–Dixie Union cross also responsible for the likes of champion 2-year-old filly Caledonia Road and GISW Salty.

Lady Jeopardy (Liam's Map) was a productive pinhook, costing just $17,000 at KEESEP but $230,000 at OBS June after a :21 2/5 breeze. Eclipsed (Exaggerator) resurfaces after finishing second to subsequent Debutante S. heroine Behave Virginia (Unified) in a late May MSW here. That event also produced last weekend's Rags to Riches S. romper Sandstone (Street Sense). TJCIS PPs

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‘A Person I’ll Never Forget’: Racing Industry Remembers Jockey Miguel Mena

Friends and colleagues from across the horse racing industry continue to share stories of jockey Miguel Mena, who tragically passed away Sunday evening in an accident on I-64 in Louisville.

Mena was a fixture around the racetrack and spent nearly every morning breezing horses for different trainers. Away from the racetrack, the 34-year-old native of Peru would constantly update his social media pages with photos of his family, including two young daughters Naelah and Montserrat. Along with his two daughters, Mena leaves behind his wife, April, and many friends and family.

Here are some memories that were shared of Mena:

· Jason Barkley (trainer): “I don't know that I can put into words what Miguel Mena has meant to us from Day 1. He was such a great person to be around and always smiling when he came to work. I was proud to have him ride for us and I was lucky enough to be his friend.”

· Declan Carroll (jockey) – “I've been lucky to know (Mena) my entire life. He was a special person and words can't describe how much he'll be missed.”

· Wayne Catalano (trainer): “Miguel was a wonderful young man. He came in cheerful. He was an unbelievable kid and great rider. I feel for his family and two young girls. They were his everything.”

· Emerson Chavez (exercise rider) – “I have so many good memories and stories to count – each one holds extraordinary value to me. … I'd like to thank him for welcoming me to my arrival in this country and offering me selfless friendship. … I'm devastated, sad and can't understand everything that happened. … Seeing so many people disgraced by his sudden departure only makes me confirm the magnificent person he was.”

· Florent Geroux (jockey): “I lost more than a friend – a true brother. He'll never be able to be replaced.”

· Tim Hanisch (agent): “I really enjoyed working with him. We had a good business relationship together but we were friends outside the track. He was one of my favorite people from the racetrack. He always had a smile on his face and was in a good mood. We'd get dinner together a lot in New Orleans at Fair Grounds. I thought a lot of him as a rider and a person. He had a really severe injury (in 2018) and admired what he showed to come back from something like that.”

· Colby Hernandez (jockey): “Miguel was not just a friend to me, he was family. There are no words that I can ever say to express our relationship. We rode for a lot of the same people and worked together almost every morning and afternoon. Things will never be the same.”

· Brian Hernandez Jr. (jockey): “We are all just going through it together. We all lost such a good friend. Miguel was always in such in a good mood. He knew how to read the racing form so well. I spent the last 15 years sitting next in jocks room. It's just really hard knowing we won't see him in that room again. … There are no words, post or pictures that can describe the honor, respect or love I have for Miguel. I truly loved the friendship we had.”

· Michelle Lovell (trainer): “I will always cherish the memory of us winning my first graded stakes race together. He rode a brilliant race. He's a person I'll never forget.”

· John Ortiz (trainer): “We lost a great friend. He was a wonderful father, husband and just a great person in general. It has been an absolute honor to have worked with him. We at Ortiz Racing send our deepest condolences to Miguel's family. He will be missed by many and especially by all of us here.”

· Dale Romans (trainer): “He was such a good person. I don't know anybody who had a bad word to say about Miguel.”

· Jose Santos Jr. (agent): “Over the past two years I had the fortune to work side by side with Miguel. He was one of the most likable guys I had been around. I think a lot of us who knew Miguel felt the same way. I eternally appreciate all of the opportunities he gave me and I will never forget what we accomplished.”

· Al Stall Jr. (trainer): “There was no question his talent. He caught everyone's eye at an early age. I noticed him at Churchill in the early 2000s. The size of the race didn't bother him at all.”

Churchill Downs will hold a moment of silence following Race 5 Wednesday (approximately 3:03 p.m.). Those who are unable to attend can view the ceremony on “America's Day at the Races” on FS2 or through the simulcast channel on the Churchill Downs LIVE app.

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Appropriately Named Howling Time Wins Street Sense on Halloween

STREET SENSE S., $200,000, Churchill Downs, 10-31, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:44.68, ft.
1–HOWLING TIME, 122, c, 2, by Not This Time
               1st Dam: Werewolf, by Arch
               2nd Dam: She's Justa Friend, by Hussonet
               3rd Dam: Sage Cat, by Tabasco Cat
($200,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Albaugh Family Stables LLC; B-Springhouse Farm (KY); T-Dale L. Romans; J-Joseph Talamo. $121,140. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $190,600.
2–Red Danger, 122, c, 2, Orb–Forget It, by Distorted Humor. ($17,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV). O-Silverton Hill LLC; B-Dattt
Farm LLC (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch. $39,400.
3–Red Knobs, 122, c, 2, Union Rags–Hokey Okey, by Lonhro
(Aus). ($75,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Jim Bakke & Gerald
Isbister; B-Caldara Farm Inc. & Flaxman Holdings Limited
(KY); T-Dale L. Romans. $19,700.
Margins: 3 1/4, 4, 5HF. Odds: 1.90, 3.30, 4.50.
Also Ran: Skippylongstocking, Guntown, Sport Pepper, Luni Sima. Scratched: Kiss the Sky, Lucky Boss.

Hunch players the world over had to delight in a colt named Howling Time–out of a mare named Werewolf–winning the Street Sense S. at Churchill on Halloween. The 9-5 choice appeared to hesitate for a fraction of a second leaving the gate, but was swiftly up to a joint third while in the clear on the outside. He stayed in striking range through reasonable :24.65 and :49.31 fractions, inched up on the turn, and emerged from the fray with the lead. Rider Joe Talamo threw a few crosses and kept Howling Time's mind on business in early stretch, but turned it into a hand ride in late stretch once it was apparent the dark bay had the win secure. He crossed the wire 3 1/4 lengths on top.

“It's pretty fitting a horse with a Halloween theme wins today,” said winning trainer Dale Romans. “I'm just glad it was ours. He won impressively in his debut last month. He's shown us in his training and his pedigree that he should like stretching out in distance. So, winning at six furlongs on debut was very impressive. Then, to come back and do that today showed how talented he is.”

Howling Time came into the Street Sense with a debut win Sept. 25 over this track at 2 1/2 furlongs shorter than Sunday's race. In a similar trip, he had tracked while wide that day, then wore down the leaders to score by 1 1/2 lengths, getting an 81 Beyer for the effort. The Street Sense marked his first black-type win and the juvenile remained undefeated in two starts.

Werewolf hails from the same family as $2.1-million Fasig-Tipton 2-year-old Desert Party (Street Cry {Ire}), who would go on to be a GSW in the U.S. and a MGSW in the U.A.E. Werewolf has a colt by Air Force Blue, born in February, and has been bred back to Bolt d'Oro. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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