Tag: Churchill Downs

Ava’s Grace A Likely Scratch From Kentucky Oaks

Ava's Grace, a 50-1 morning line choice for the Kentucky Oaks, will likely be scratched from the race, according to Churchill Downs officials. Trainer Robertino Diodoro indicated he was dissatisfied with the filly's physical condition.

Daily Racing Form's David Grening tweeted that Diodoro had no definite diagnosis for Ava's Grace but was concerned about her right shoulder and planned to get a nuclear scintigraphy scan done. Nuclear scintigraphy is a useful tool in isolating potential sources of lameness or discomfort that remain vague in a traditional lameness exam. The procedure involves the injection of a harmless radioactive isotope, which will bind to areas of increased metabolic activity in the skeleton, showing bright areas or “hot spots” when the scan is performed.

Learn more about the typical process for lameness examinations here.\

Diodoro trains Ava's Grace for Cypress Creek Equine. The daughter of Laoban was bred in Kentucky by Southern Equine Stables and most recently finished second in the Grade 3 Fantasy behind Pauline's Pear. She also has a third-place effort in the G2 Adirondack to her credit. David Cohenhd been named to ride the filly, who had been the early speed in the field during her last outing.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Lone Rock Surges Home For Dominant Victory In Isaac Murphy Marathon

Flying P Stable's Lone Rock surged past defending champion Ry's the Guy at the three-sixteenths pole en route to a 3 ¾-length victory in the third running of the $128,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes for 4-year-olds and up Tuesday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Robertino Diodoro and ridden by Ramon Vazquez, Lone Rock covered the 1 ½ miles on a fast main track in 2:30.52.

Dack Janiel's set the pace, covering the mile in 1:38.90 and maintained the lead until the far turn when Ry's the Guy moved to the front with Lone Rock right behind him. The top two hit the top of the stretch together with Lone Rock going the better of the two and gradually pulling away.

The victory was worth $78,684 and increased Lone Rock's career bankroll to $528.921 with a record of 32-10-3-2. Lone Rock is a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred gelded son of Majestic Warrior out of the Hard Spun mare Ruby Lips.

Favored in the field of seven, Lone Rock returned $3.80, $2.60 and $2.40. Ry's the Guy, ridden by Chris Landeros, returned $4.20 and $3.40 with Portos finishing third under Tyler Gaffalione and paying $3.20 to show.

You're to Blame finished fourth, followed in order by Plus Que Parfait, Dack Janiel's and Jumper.

RAMON VAZQUEZ (Jockey, Lone Rock, winner) – “I got to know him a little last time and I wanted to stay off the horse on the lead in second but in that situation I had to ease back a little bit. I had some traffic in front of me so I had to ease him back. When I hit the far turn and had a lot of horse I knew we would be tough. To win a stakes here Kentucky Derby Week is incredible. That's why we do this, so I'm just really fortunate. It's an amazing feeling.”

ROBERTINO DIODORO (Trainer, Lone Rock, winner) – “A lot of horses can't go that far but he's a pro. He loves to train. The further he trains, the better he gets. He was so relaxed compared to many of those horses and that's what you need when you're going that distance.”

CHRIS LANDEROS (Jockey, Ry's the Guy, runner-up) – “He gave it a good try but he got real tired on me.”

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Undefeated Annex Headlines Saturday’s American Turf Stakes

LNJ Foxwoods' and Eclipse Thoroughbreds' undefeated Annex, along with Stuart Janney III's Scarlett Sky and John Oxley's Palazzi, the one-two finishers in the recent Transylvania (G3) at Keeneland, top a field of 14 3-year-olds for Saturday's 30th running of the $500,000 American Turf presented by Derby City Gaming (G2) at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/16-mile grass test serves as the ninth race on Saturday's Kentucky Derby day card with a 3:40 p.m. post time.

Trained by Bill Mott, Annex comes into Saturday's race off victories in the Palm Beach and Cutler Bay at Gulfstream Park. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount and will exit post four.

Trained by Shug McGaughey, Scarlett Sky rallied from far back to win the Transylvania by a half-length after being beaten by a head in the Palm Beach by Annex. Joel Rosario has the mount Saturday and will break from post 13.

Palazzi, who took the Texas Turf Mile to start his 2021 campaign, is trained by Mark Casse and will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from post 14.

The field for the American Turf, with riders and weights from the inside, is:

  1. Excellent Timing (Umberto Rispoli, 118 pounds)
  2. Winfromwithin (Luis Saez, 118)
  3. Chess's Dream (Jose Ortiz, 120)
  4. Annex (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118)
  5. Du Jour (Flavien Prat, 118)
  6. Royal Prince (Javier Castellano, 118)
  7. Dyn O Mite (James Graham, 118)
  8. Barrister Tom (Drayden Van Dyke, 118)
  9. Holy Vow (Sophie Doyle, 118)
  10. Next (John Velazquez, 118)
  11. Hidden Enemy (Mike Smith, 118)
  12. Lucky Law (Florent Geroux, 118)
  13. Scarlett Sky (Joel Rosario, 120)
  14. Palazzi (Tyler Gaffalione, 118)

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Jackie’s Warrior Shortens Up, Faces Prevalence In Pat Day Mile

Kirk and Judy Robison's two-time Grade 1 winner Jackie's Warrior tops a field of a dozen 3-year-olds for Saturday's 97th running of the Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU (G2) at Churchill Downs, on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby.

The main track test will go as Saturday's eighth race with a 2:48 p.m. post time.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Jackie's Warrior won his first four starts, a streak that included daylight victories in the Saratoga Special (G2), Hopeful (G1) and Champagne (G1). Jackie's Warrior finished third behind Essential Quality over a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park in the Southwest (G3) in his lone start of 2021.

Joel Rosario has the mount and will exit post three.

Figuring to be one of the main challengers to Jackie's Warrior is Godolphin's homebred Prevalence.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Prevalence started his career with two blowout victories before finishing sixth in the Wood Memorial (G2) in his most recent start. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount from post five.

The field for the Pat Day Mile, with riders and weights from the rail out, is:

  1. Three Two Zone (Kendrick Carmouche, 118 pounds)
  2. Ultimate Badger (Joe Talamo, 118)
  3. Jackie's Warrior (Rosario, 122)
  4. Defunded (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118)
  5. Prevalence (Gaffalione, 118)
  6. Starrininmydreams (Luis Saez, 118)
  7. Whiskey Double (Ricardo Santana Jr., 118)
  8. Dream Shake (Flavien Prat, 118)
  9. Sittin On Go (Corey Lanerie, 118)
  10. Dreamer's Disease (David Cohen, 118)
  11. Noble Reflection (John Velazquez, 118)
  12. Joe Frazier (Florent Geroux, 118)

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