‘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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Navratilova Gives Humphrey Milestone Win In Keeneland’s Valley View

G. Watts Humphrey Jr.'s homebred Navratilova dug down deep for a front-running one-length victory in Friday's featured $150,000 Rubicon Valley View (G3) on the penultimate day of Keeneland's 17-day Fall Meet in Lexington, Ky. The win marked the eighth graded stakes victory for Humphrey and earned for him a Keeneland Tray, part of Keeneland's unique Milestone Trophy Program.

Humphrey is the 23rd owner to receive the Keeneland Tray, first awarded to Hasty House Farm during the 1955 Spring Meet. On Oct. 23, Godolphin earned the Keeneland Tray following Caramel Swirl's win in the Lexus Raven Run (G2).

Navratilova, trained by Rusty Arnold and ridden by Colby Hernandez, covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.57 over a turf course listed as yielding.

She and Hernandez broke sharply and secured the early lead heading into the first turn through an opening quarter-mile fraction of :23.82. Crazy Beautiful and Brian Hernandez Jr. broke sharply but settled in second up the backstretch while favored Toby's Heart and Joel Rosario kept to the inside in fourth behind Arm Candy and Ricardo Santana Jr.

Following a half-mile time in :49.06 and 6-furlong mark of 1:14.02, Navratilova continued to cruise on the lead while Crazy Beautiful and Tobys Heart maintained second and third, respectively. Inside the eighth pole, Navratilova was able to hold off Crazy Beautiful for the victory.

Sent off at odds of 25-1, Navratilova returned $53.80, $20.60 and $10.20. Crazy Beautiful paid $8.40 and $5.40 while Adventuring and Florent Geroux closed late for third and returned $5.60.

Navratilova is a 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro out of the Grade 1-winning mare Centre Court, by Smart Strike. With today's win, the Kentucky-bred earned $90,000 to increase her career earnings to $241,465 with a record of 9-3-0-3.

Tobys Heart was able to hold fourth and was followed by Core Values, Breaker of Chains, Oliviaofthedesert, Saranya, Queenship (IRE), Arm Candy and Princess Theorem. Oyster Box, Lady Speightspeare, Flown, Gam's Mission and Wait for Nairobi were scratched from the over-subscribed field.

Sweet Dani Girl Wins Myrtlewood
J & J Stables and Nicholas Vaccarezza's Sweet Dani Girl made a bold three-wide rally to win the $150,000 Myrtlewood, named for the Hall of Famer and influential broodmare who won three races during Keeneland's nine-day opening meet in October 1936, in the race before the Rubicon Valley View.

Trained by Vaccarezza's father, Carlo Vaccarezza, and ridden by Martin Garcia, Sweet Dani Girl covered 6 furlongs in 1:10.36 over the track rated fast.

Kant Believe It and Verylittlecents dueled on the lead throughout much of the Myrtlewood through a quarter-mile fraction of :22.16 and half-mile time of :46.14. Garcia and Sweet Dani Girl tracked just to the outside of the pacesetting duo and was able to surge to the lead in the final strides for a three-quarter-length victory.

Sweet Dani Girl, the 2-1 favorite, paid $6, $4.20 and $3.40. Kant Believe It held second to return $7.20 and $5 under Jose Ortiz, while Verylittlecents finished third under Joe Talamo and returned $6.40.

Chi Town Lady finished fourth and was followed by Jester Calls Nojoy, Jumeirah, Towser, Majestic d'Oro, She's Pure Silver and You Look Cold. Blazing Summer was scratched.

Sweet Dani Girl Martin Garcia up, wins the Myrtlewood Stakes

With Sweet Dani Girl's victory in the Myrtlewood, she earned $90,000 and remained perfect in two career starts. The daughter of Jess's Dream out of the Scat Daddy mare My Sweet Dani Girl was bred in Florida by her owners.

Saturday is closing day of the Fall Meet with 10 races beginning at 1 p.m. ET. The card includes three stakes: Race 7 (4:12 p.m.) — $150,000 Bowman Mill, Race 8 (4:44 p.m.) – Bryan Station and Race 9 (5:16 p.m.) – Hagyard Fayette (G2).

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Change Of Control Takes Buffalo Trace Franklin County In A Keeneland Deluge

Perry Harrison's Change of Control was first out of the gate and first to the finish line in posting a 1½-length victory over 62-1 longshot Ambassador Luna in the 25th running of the $150,000 Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes  (G3) for fillies and mares on a rainy Friday afternoon at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

Trained by Michelle Lovell and ridden by Colby Hernandez, Change of Control covered the 5½ furlongs on a turf course labeled yielding in 1:05.89.

With the victory, Change of Control became the fourth horse to win the Giant's Causeway during Keeneland's Spring Meet and come back in the Fall Meet to win the Buffalo Trace Franklin County. The others were Dyna Da Wyna (2004), Confessional (2001) and Ayrial Delight (1999).

It is the second Keeneland stakes victory for Lovell and Hernandez, both coming with Change of Control.

Ambassador Luna quickly overtook Change of Control after the start and led the field of 10 through a first quarter-mile in :22.66 as Change of Control raced fourth while in the clear.

In the stretch, Ambassador Luna shook off bids from In Good Spirits and Yes It's Ginger but could not hold off the charge of Change of Control, who assumed control just before the sixteenth pole.

“It was a little tough,” said Hernandez. “When we broke out of the gate I looked over and she was a little in front, but you couldn't see that good out there. But she broke very sharp, I was able to get in a good position and then sit and wait, and when I called on her she finished up strong.”

A Keeneland sales graduate, Change of Control is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Fed Biz out of the Quiet American mare America's Blossom.

With Friday's $90,000 winner's share, Change of Control increased her earnings to $656,775 with a record of 30-8-6-6. It was her second graded stakes victory and fourth stakes triumph overall.

Change of Control returned $14.60, $7.60 and $4.20. Ambassador Luna, ridden by James Graham, returned $42.40 and $12.80 while finishing a neck in front of favored Campanelle (IRE), who rallied for third and paid $3 to show under Joel Rosario.

It was another 4¼ lengths back to In Good Spirits with Lagertha (CHI), Yes It's Ginger, Catch a Bid, Lead Guitar, Violenza and She's So Special following in order.

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Carribean Caper Captures Dogwood Stakes At Churchill

Columbine Stable's Carribean Caper swept three-wide on the turn to reel in the early leaders and drew away in the stretch for an easy six-length victory over Someone Said So in Saturday's 46th running of the $275,000 Grade 3 Dogwood at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., to remain unbeaten in five starts.

Carribean Caper ran seven furlongs in 1:22.57 over fast track under Colby Hernandez, who rode the winner for trainer Al Stall Jr.

“I was happy to see her leave the gate well and get to the outside,” Stall Jr. said. “She's a really classy animal. I'm really proud to train her.”

This was the first graded stakes win for Carribean Caper, who previously won the $100,000 Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., in her stakes debut.

“We'll probably take a look at the race at Keeneland ($250,000 Grade 2 Raven Run) on Oct. 23,” Stall Jr. said. “Even further down the road maybe we could look at something like the Grade 1 La Brea (on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.). Maybe in the future, I could see her stretch out but right now she's doing so well sprinting and we'll try to keep her on that track.”

The $60,570 first prize jumped Carribean Caper's earnings to $238,060 from a record of 5-0-0 in five starts.

Sent off as the odds-on 2-5 favorite in the field of six 3-year-old fillies, Carribean Caper paid $2.80, $2.20, and $2.10. Someone Said So, a 10-1 longshot ridden by Adam Beschizza, returned $6.40 and $3.00. Malloy, also at 10-1 with Joe Talamo up, was 2 ¼ lengths back of the runner-up and paid $3.20 to show.

Shesa Mystery, Patty H, and Coppelia completed the order of finish. Li'l Tootsie was scratched.

Coppelia, breaking from the rail, and Patty H, from post No. 5, battled for the early lead down the backstretch through fractions of :22.42 and :44.88. Someone Said So rated just off the leaders and Carribean Caper rated in the clear in fourth. Midway around the turn, Carribean Caper dragged Hernandez to the front with a sweeping move. She poked her head in front at the top of the homestretch and easily put away her five rivals down the lane.

“She broke pretty well today and I was able to get her to the outside pretty easily,” Hernandez said. “I got her into a nice rhythm and she went on with it. Today's race was all her. All I had to do was hang on.”

Carribean Caper is a daughter of Speightstown out of the Dixie Union mare Checkupfromzneckup and was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm. She was purchased by Columbine Stable's Andrea Pollack for $250,000 at 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from consignor VanMeter-Gentry Sales.

The Dogwood is named for the hardy, blooming tree that adds so much beauty to the spring landscape in Kentucky.

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