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‘Love What I Do’: Ageless Jon Court Carries On At Churchill Downs

Veteran jockey Jon Court is the elder statesman in the Churchill Downs jockey colony at age 60. However, the journeyman rider continues to ride at a top level and remains optimistic about the future of his career.

“I've been very fortunate and blessed to be able to have a body that still cooperates and to have live horses underneath me,” said Court, who had five wins through 28 days at the Spring Meet. “I know I'm at the top of the stretch in my career but that means I still have a quarter-mile left to go. I've been around the block for many years and love what I do.”

Court has won more than 4,200 races in his career that began in 1980 at the now defunct Centennial Race Track in Littleton, Colo. Court started his jockey career before eight of the current Top 10 riders in the Churchill Downs colony were born.

“When you get to this stage of your career, some of the younger riders come up and ask for advice,” Court said. “I'm very open and love doing that. It makes you realize you are very blessed to be in that sort of situation where fellow riders are asking you for advice. I'm very lucky.”

Court was named to ride six horses over the next three days of racing at Churchill Downs. Among his scheduled mounts was a 2-year-old named Curly Tail for trainer Dallas Stewart and owner Willis Horton. Stewart and Horton remained successful with Court earlier this year when he rode Will's Secret to a third-place finish in the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI).

“There have been many loyal trainers and owners who have stuck with me for a number of years,” Court said. “This game is tough but loyalty goes a long way.”

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Dubai World Cup Notes: Title Ready ‘Deserves A Shot,’ Mystic Guide ‘Has Flourished’ In The UAE

The following notes detail contenders in Saturday's $12 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse, and were provided by members of the Dubai Racing Club media team:

Chuwa Wizard – The sole Japanese contender cantered for half a lap on the dirt track with his regular work rider Kota Kato on board.

“He feels great. I think he can go into the race a fit horse,” Kato said.

“He will put on toe outer rim (shoes) with 2mm spikes for the race, as the 2000m (1 1/4 miles) has two turns, and will get familiarized with them in the trotting ring tomorrow. Everything is all set and fingers crossed.”

Gifts of Gold – Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor said of his Red Sea Turf Handicap winner: “He had a prep run here over 2000m before Saudi. People were asking me why are you running him over 3200m, he's a 2000m horse. But in my mind I knew this was the right thing to do.

“The key to this horse is he has to be close, sitting quietly second or third will make the difference with him. Pat (Cosgrave) knows him well, he rides him in the mornings, he knew what to do. He won well and picked up some nice prize money.

“Now we prepare him for the Dubai World Cup, back over 2000m. It's tough but it's an open race. ”

Regarding the draw in stall 14, Bin Suroor continued: “I never pick a good one, luckily the horses have been good enough to win. It's not ideal but Christophe Soumillon knows the track well and has won the race twice. What's important for the horse is to jump well and get a nice position. The last piece of work was Thursday and he went very well, we can do no more now.”

Great Scot – Cantered one lap of the track and just stretched out over the final 200m of his work this morning.

Saud Alkahtani, speaking on behalf of trainer, Abdullah Mishriff, said: “He's training very good, he likes the track, it's different compared with the Saudi track, here it's sharper in comparison but he loves it.”

Reflecting on the third-placed spot in the Saudi Cup, he continued: “That's what makes us think very highly of this horse's chances tomorrow, he was beaten by two good horses in Charlatan, one of the best in America, and Mishriff – a Group 1 winner in the French Derby and the Saudi Cup now – so I think our horse has a good chance tomorrow.”

Hypothetical – The former John Gosden-trained 4-year-old enjoyed some light exercise this morning at Fazza Stables. Trainer Salem Bin Ghadayer said: “He's as good as he can be, we're happy with the draw and looking forward to tomorrow now.”

Jesus' Team – Continued with an easy gallop on Friday morning, going two steady laps on the dirt track. Former Venezuelan leading trainer Jose Francisco D'Angelo watched his every move and was pleased with what he witnessed.

D'Angelo said: “He went slower than yesterday. When he finishes and you go slow he'll try to jump where the lights are. So I told my rider (Willo Mercado) to keep him going. I'm very, very happy.

“I am ready. A little nervous for sure, but we are ready. I can't express this feeling. Not just to run, but to be running with a chance is amazing for me.

“Today he looked focussed, better than yesterday. The rider said he's 100%. My plan has gone well. We're ready to rock and roll.”

A sizeable Venezuelan contingent has turned up in support of the young trainer, including D'Angelo's wife, mother, sister and friends.

Magny Cours – The Andre Fabre-trained Magny Cours was one of the last foreign raiders to come onto the training track on Friday morning, where he did a slow canter. Richard Lambert, his travelling head lad, said: “We are happy with him. He is handling the heat really well. It is quite late when we come out in the morning, but he has adapted well to the heat.”

Mystic Guide – Godolphin's Mike Stidham-trained leading runner came out to the Meydan dirt track at 7am and had an easy gallop around the track before gate schooling for the second consecutive day.

“He had a nice easy gallop,” Stidham said. “That was the plan and he went well. Yesterday he was a little anxious in the gate, but today was better. He walks right in as soon as they put the strap behind him.”

Lightly raced, the homebred 4-year-old colt makes just his eighth start on Saturday.

“He just has flourished here,” Stidham continued. “Every day I've been watching his weight and seeing if his coat was changing, but he's been perfect. I'm amazed at how well he's taking all of this.”

Salute The Soldier – Trainer Fawzi Nass has completed preparations with his big-race runner and is happy with where he stands.

“As we have said we would have preferred a better draw but the horse is in great shape and his last work was very good indeed. Adrie (de Vries) is a world-class jockey so I will leave tactics to him as the race unfolds,” he said.

Sleepy Eyes Todd – A quiet morning was in store for Grade 2 Charlestown Classic victor Sleepy Eyes Todd, taking a steady turn around the Meydan dirt track. Trainer Miguel Angel Silva watched the grey from his customary spot on the apron.

Silva said: “He went very mildly, stretched his legs. We are ready. Hopefully we will go home with the prize-money. It's been a great learning experience and I love it. I would change nothing about the trip we've had.”

Five weeks ago Sleepy Eyes Todd appeared in Saudi Arabia, a first ever international venture for team Silva.

“He's been running every month. This is the perfect timing to be back running at 100%,” Silva continued.

“It is a dream come true for every trainer. Every person that works in this business is looking for a horse like this. There are only 14 horses in the race so there are very few people that can really come and enjoy this moment. We are really fortunate to be here, to be one of the few.”

Thegreatcollection – Trainer Doug Watson is thrilled but surprised that one of his stable stalwarts finally has a big-race chance.

“This horse owes us nothing; he has been a great servant to us all over four years and this time last year had just won the Silver Jubilee over 1400m at Jebel Ali,” he said. “If you told me then, or even in December when he won the Dubai Creek Mile, he would be running in a Dubai World Cup I would have laughed.

“But he has had a great season and proved he deserves his chance, especially with his second in the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge. He can be forgiven his lesser effort on Super Saturday because the bit slipped through his mouth and he has never been the easiest horse to ride.

“He has never been a flashy work horse and his last gallop was just typical of him and far from spectacular but that is normal. He saves his efforts for the races so hopefully Saturday is one of his big runs. There should be plenty of pace which will suit and we are really looking forward to it.”

Title Ready – Charles Fipke's homebred Title Ready jogged on Friday morning, getting the minimal amount of exercise and staying loose before his big bout tomorrow evening.

The son of More Than Ready has impressed the media with his appearance in recent days, hinting that he may be ready to step up to Grade 1 company off his Grade 3 victory last out in New Orleans. In November, he was off the board in the Breeders' Cup Classic over this same 2000m distance.

“We ran him in the Breeders' Cup and he ran pretty good, but then I ran him back too fast in the (Grade 1) Clark (Stakes) at Churchill (Downs),” trainer Dallas Stewart said. “He got some time and then won and looked really good at the Fair Grounds (in the G3 Louisiana Stakes). He's bred to be a good horse, by More Than Ready from the family of Personal Ensign. He deserves a shot in this race. He's a grinder and will keep trying.”

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Dubai World Cup Notes: Jesus’ Team, Mystic Guide Take It Easy After Paddock Schooling

The following notes detail contenders in Saturday's $12 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse, and were provided by members of the Dubai Racing Club media team:

Ajuste Fiscal – Had an easy workout on the Meydan dirt track at 5am on Wednesday.

“He is fit and well and really just having a leg stretcher before the big day,” said trainer Antonio Cintra.

Chuwa Wizard – The Japanese challenger was hand-walked for 60 minutes at the quarantine stable area and did not come out on the track this morning.

Work rider Kota Kato said: “He has settled well and is physically fit. He weighed 490kg today, about the same as when he won the Group 1 Champions Cup, which means he is in really good form. He will have a piece of work on the dirt track at 5am and will have a gate schooling tomorrow.”

Jesus' Team – A couple of new experiences characterized the last 24 hours for Jesus' Team and Venezuelan trainer Jose Francisco D'Angelo.

Around 6pm on Tuesday night the colt was able to familiarize himself with the Meydan paddock.

“He looked a little sharp, a little nervous because all of it is new for him. It's a long walk and the transportation from the barn is in a truck. So that is new for him,” said D'Angelo.

“He will be more focused and more professional for the race because Jesus is always better the second time around.”

The following morning Jesus' Team took two turns around the dirt, followed shortly by a first look inside the starting gates.

D'Angelo said: “Today he improved on the track, every day he is going better. He did two laps, slow to a bit faster. Similar to how we are going to run [in the race]. He's doing perfectly. We went to the starting gate today with him and he looked very professional, very focused, not nervous. I like what I see.”

The Claiming Crown Jewel victor has quite the character, with D'Angelo having many a tale to tell.

“Yesterday before he was working, he put his feet on my back,” he said. “Before the Preakness one day he tried to escape when he was being hand-grazed. Jesus is a very delicate horse. You have to be able to deal with him.”

Magny Cours – The André Fabre-trained contender made his first appearance on the dirt track at Meydan on Wednesday morning where he cantered on the back stretch before going a bit quicker in front of the grandstand.

Richard Lambert, the travelling head lad who looks after the son of Medaglia d'Oro, said: “His rider was very happy with him this morning. Everything went well and he looks in good form. He will not come back to the dirt track but will remain on the training track.”

Mystic Guide – Godolphin's Mike Stidham-trained Mystic Guide did not come to the track on Wednesday morning. On Tuesday evening, the son of champion Ghostzapper and five-time Grade 1 winner Music Note went through the schooling process at Meydan, which involves vanning over from the international quarantine barn to the receiving barn, walking the 800m tunnel, saddling, parade-ring walking and then returning.

“Based on the schooling process we gave him the morning off,” Stidham said. “He had trained in the morning and then went over there for two hours of schooling, so we just felt like it would be best to give him an easy day. We walked and grazed him. Tomorrow he will gallop and stand in the gate.

“It's a lot different; the total opposite of what we do in the States,” he continued. “Doing all this in a week's time is very demanding on a horse and their routine, so you have to adapt your training with this extra activity and that's what I'm doing. He's plenty fit. I don't want to put him over the top and have a flat horse on race day.”

Salute The Soldier – Jockey Adrie de Vries had a positive bulletin on the Fawzi Nass trainee.

“He is a very exciting horse and we are all really looking forward to Saturday,” he said. “If you remember, this time last year he was favorite for the Godolphin Mile, now he has a live chance in the big race. His final work was very good and he seems in great form. Fawzi and his team have done very well keeping him fresh and happy. I am really looking forward to Saturday.”

Sleepy Eyes Todd – To the joy of the media, Sleepy Eyes Todd posed for the cameras after gate schooling, followed by an easy gallop. Trainer Miguel Angel Silva watched intently from the rail.

“This is the first time [in the gates]. They told me the gates are different than the ones in America. We just wanted to make sure he's OK in there, because they said they are smaller,” Silva elaborated.

“He was a gentleman like always, he was perfect. Today he just galloped around to stretch his legs. The job is done. We just keep him happy. We will continue with the easy canters, easy gallops over the next few days,” Silva continued.

Regular rider Jose Sandoval was aboard Sleepy Eyes Todd, the pair having been travelling everywhere together.

As for Saturday, Silva is ready to roll.

He continued: “I have been saying this a lot, we just need racing luck. We had a few issues with other horses in Saudi Arabia, they cut us off. All of a sudden, we were 15 lengths behind. Ideally, I would like to see him four or five lengths off the speed. And in front at the wire!”

Thegreatcollection – Continued his preparation at the Doug Watson stable with jockey Pat Cosgrave excited about his chances.

He said: “I am delighted be back on him and have a decent record on the horse this season. Look, I am not saying we are going to win but I certainly think he will run a big race.”

Title Ready – Charles Fipke's homebred Title Ready came to the dirt track at 7am and had an easy hack around with his owner in town to watch. Trainer Dallas Stewart was also on hand for the first time this week.

“The horse looked great,” Stewart said. “He's doing well. The horse came in good and we're excited to see what he can do on Saturday. He looks like he's getting over the track good. Like any of them, he's going to have to step his game up. It's a good race. He's a very nice horse who's six now and he's training well and coming off his best race. His best races might be ahead. Hopefully he'll step up to this level.

“I think the competition is solid. Mystic Guide is a wonderful horse coming off a win and you have to worry about him. The other American horses are really solid, as well.”

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Dubai World Cup Notes: Jesus’ Team Blows Out Under Lights

The following notes detail contenders in Saturday's $12 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse, and were provided by members of the Dubai Racing Club media team:

Ajuste Fiscal – Uruguay's 2019 horse of the year stayed inside quarantine on Tuesday morning but is expected back on the Meydan dirt track alongside his UAE Derby-bound stablemate, El Patriota, at 5am on Wednesday.

Capezzano and Hypothetical – The two Salem Bin Ghadayer-trained Dubai World Cup charges stayed inside their trainer's base at Fazza Stables in Nad Al Sheba on Tuesday morning. Both horses completed their final bits of fast work on Saturday and are just ticking over until the big race.

Capezzano, the 2020 Group 3 Firebreak Stakes and 2019 Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 winner, started the year by finishing out of the money in the 1600m first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge and followed up with a fourth in Round 2 over 1900m.

Speaking about Capezzano, a 7-year-old son of Bernadini, Bin Ghadayer said: “The horse wasn't quite right in January. He was wrong in his coat and just wasn't himself which he showed in a couple of races where he didn't perform as expected.

“But now he's back in good health and really impressed us in his last pieces of work on Saturday over four furlongs (800m). We could have run him in the [Godolphin] Mile but with him being so well in himself and showing that the old Capezzano is back, we decided to take the chance in the big race.”

Chuwa Wizard – Japan's flagship for the race was given a gallop under his regular jockey Keita Tosaki in the first lot on the dirt track. He is the 2020 Japan Racing Association's champion dirt horse after winning the Grade 1 Champions Cup, the key race on the surface in his home country. His consistency is certainly his top selling point and before running ninth in the Saudi Cup, last month, he had never missed the board in 18 starts at home – being unplaced only once.

“He has trained well so far. The trainer told me to start a slow gallop at the beginning and then in the rest of the work I should decide the way he ran,” said his jockey Keita Tosaki. “I asked my horse to run comfortably and drive a bit more strongly towards the end of the stretch. He is more enthusiastic about his job compared to last time in Saudi, and I really understand how he is doing well and how good his condition is. He appears ready to race.

“Obviously it was not like he wasn't in good form when he ran last time, but he is definitely sharpening up mentally this time. Stretching out the distance back to 2000m with two turns in the race gives me a lot of expectations.”

Gifts Of Gold – Continues his preparation at his home base of Al Quoz. “He's as good as he can be and we're looking forward to Saturday night,” said trainer Saeed Bin Suroor.

Great Scot – Had some light exercise this morning within the quarantine facility and will train on the main dirt track tomorrow morning.

Trainer Abdullah Mishriff said: “Similar to the other Prince Faisal-owned horse, we moved our breezing day for Great Scot as we wanted to work him at home before shipping. He's come out of the breeze very well and all is going to plan. We're hoping for a good draw tomorrow.”

Jesus' Team – It was an important morning for Jesus' Team, as he was allowed to stretch his legs in the final 600m of the Meydan straight. Venezuelan trainer Jose Francisco D'Angelo couldn't have been more pleased as he watched his charge stride along.

D'Angelo said: “He trained perfectly today. I spoke with the rider and asked him to let him run along in the last 2 to 3 furlongs (400 to 600m). He did this spectacularly in '26, like I wanted. I liked what I saw today, we are ready.”

Jesus' Team hadn't breezed since his 1400m move at Palm Meadows nine days ago.

“He needed this, this gallop. He breezed like it was nothing,” D'Angelo continued. “This is my first experience in a big race outside of the USA. He represents a big promise to the owner, to my country, to [the] USA, to perform well in this race.”

Magny Cours – The 6-year-old Magny Cours spent a second morning on the training track in Dubai after leaving quarantine on Monday.

Richard Lambert, the travelling head lad who looks after the André Fabre-trained son of Medaglia d'Oro, said: “Just like yesterday he came onto the training track, where he did a little canter. We won't be doing much between now and the Dubai World Cup. Magny Cours has adapted really well and seems to really like it here.”

Military Law – This 6yo gelded son of Dubawi has grown to love conditions in the UAE and shown an affinity for Meydan's dirt track over the past two seasons despite having to deal with some truly heavyweight names.

Second in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 over 1900m behind Benbatl and the 2000m Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 after his victory in The Entisar, Military Law brought his form forward into the new season and made his seasonal bow in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1, which he won by a length and a quarter from Thegreatcollection in January.

He was then dispatched to Riyadh and took on a host of top dirt runners from around the world in the Saudi Cup, where he placed a distant sixth behind eventual winner Mishriff over a 1900m trip.

Trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri said conditions at Riyadh did not suit Military Law, who needed time to recover after the race, but seems back to his pre-Saudi self now after reacclimatising at Meydan. Military Law hit the Meydan dirt track for an easy canter on Tuesday and will do his last piece of work Thursday with Al Mheiri admitting he will demand a bit more then.

“He came back in good shape from Saudi but the race and all the travelling took a bit out of him. The surface was deeper on the day and he came back a little bit tired but he's bounced back to normal. He was rested on Monday, cantered today and will get a bit of a breeze Thursday morning,” Al Mheiri said.

Al Mheiri's assistant Maria Ritchie, who has also been overseeing his conditioning, added: “He had his final gallop on Saturday and Musabbeh and Antonio, who has been riding him every day, are both happy with his work. He's put in good times and worked very well and we are happy with his times.”

Mystic Guide – Godolphin's Mike Stidham-trained Mystic Guide had an easy day at Meydan, jogging one circuit of the dirt track clockwise with a pony, sticking to the perimeter. Stidham and assistant Hilary Pridham arrived the previous evening from New Orleans and were on hand.

“Everything has been fantastic and the horse was very happy and relaxed in his jog,” Stidham said. “We'll school (in the saddling enclosure and parade ring) this evening. He seems to be taking everything really well.”

Having breezed Sunday and walked Monday, Mystic Guide will likely have an easy canter on Wednesday before the late-morning post position draw.

Stidham said that he would prefer “somewhere in the middle” as far as post position. Mystic Guide is the veteran conditioner's first runner outside of America or Canada. Jockey Luis Saez has the assignment on Saturday in what will be his first Dubai World Cup night ride. His agent, former trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, won the 2007 Dubai World Cup with Invasor and is a former UAE champion trainer.

Salute The Soldier – The in-form performer is having a quiet week at the Fawzi Nass stable. The trainer reported: “He has completed all his major work and will just tick over between now and Saturday, including a scheduled visit to Meydan. It is just great to be representing Bahrain in such a prestigious race, especially to be going there with a horse who has, we hope, a genuine chance. The draw is going to be crucial in that race.”

Sleepy Eyes Todd – Frequent traveller Sleepy Eyes Todd walked in the quarantine barn today, after putting in his final breeze over 1600m the day before. Trainer Miguel Angel Silva reported the grey to have pulled up well and he will appear on the dirt track again tomorrow.

Thegreatcollection – Trainer Doug Watson said: “We are delighted with him; he did his final piece of work yesterday, went very well and looks great. We then trotted him out in the afternoon and he was fine so we cannot get to Saturday quick enough and are really looking forward to it!”

Title Ready – Charles Fipke's homebred Title Ready exited his 800m Monday breeze in top order for trainer Dallas Stewart, who arrived on Monday evening. The Grade 3 winner will be ridden by Ryan Moore on Saturday.

“He's come out of his work really good,” Stewart said. “We're happy. No problems at all.” Stewart also reported that he would prefer a post that is “a little outside”.

Moore is winless in the Dubai World Cup so far but has finished third twice with Planteur (2012, 2013).

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