Backside Learning Center’s Largest Annual Fundraiser Sells Out; Silent Auction Live Online

The Backside Learning Center (BLC)–an independent non-profit organization providing support and resources in a safe, welcoming environment for the diverse community of racetrack workers and their families–will hold its largest annual fundraiser, “The 16th Annual Benefit for the Backside: A Day at the Races”, Friday, Nov. 18 at Churchill Downs. While the event is sold out, the BLC is hosting an online, silent auction consisting of horseracing, and hard to find items including a Kentucky Oaks box for 6; a speakeasy tasting tour at Evan Williams bourbon for 20; a morning on the backstretch with Jockey Ferrin Peterson; top-shelf bourbon packages and more. In addition, the BLC will conduct a “Derby Week Suite for 40” raffle drawing including food and drink (a $7,500 value.)

The BLC plans to host several FaceBook Lives at the event to present their transformative work with equine workers and families. They will also recognize members of the community who have demonstrated an extraordinary level of dedication to their mission. To participate in the online silent auction, purchase a Derby Week Suite for 40 raffle ticket, donate and more, visit the Benefit for the Backstretch website.

“This event is a great and fun opportunity to gather those who believe in our mission, and who want to support those who play such a vital role in the success of the horseracing industry,” said Executive Director Sherry Stanley. “The Backside is such a vibrant and diverse community right in the heart of the city that most people never think about. We serve the hundreds of workers and their children who are members of our community and who will soon be our next generation of leaders.”

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First Starter a Winner for Freshman Sire McCraken at Keeneland

Freshman sire McCraken (Ghostzapper) got immediately off the mark with his first starter at Keeneland Thursday afternoon.

Drawn widest of all in post nine, Crackalacking (f, 2, McCraken–Sacred Moon, by Malibu Moon) forced the issue from an outside third, gained command around the far turn and blew the race apart from there to graduate by five lengths at odds of 18-1.

Extremely well-backed, rail-drawn firster Grand Oak (Ire) (Speightstown), off as the even-money favorite from a 6-1 morning-line quote for trainer Rusty Arnold, was a good second after a tough trip.

It was the first career wins at Keeneland for winning jockey Ferrin Peterson and trainer Sarah Hamilton, respectively.

After producing a colt by Klimt in 2021, the winner's dam was bred back to that sire for 2022.

McCraken, a three-time graded winner and runner-up in the GI betfair.com Haskell Invitational S., stands for $5,000 at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky.

2nd-Keeneland, $72,400, Msw, 4-21, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, :52.67, my, 5 lengths.
CRACKALACKING (f, 2, McCraken–Sacred Moon, by Malibu Moon) Sales history: $15,000 Ylg '21 KEEJAN; $20,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $47,120. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Randy Finegan; B-Mullikin Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Sarah Hamilton.

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Roselba Holds Off Bramble Bay To Win Pinot Grigio At Monmouth

Roselba took control of the lead midway through the backstretch and then had just enough left to hold off the relentless stretch-long challenge from Bramble Bay to win Saturday's $85,000 Pinot Grigio Handicap by a neck at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.

Trained by Rory Huston and ridden by Ferrin Peterson, Roselba resisted the prolonged attempt by Bramble Bay to go by in posting her first career stakes victory and second win in the past three starts.

The winning time for the five furlongs over a firm turf course was :56.98. It was another 8½ lengths back in third to Ask Around.

“My strategy was to get the lead,” said Peterson. “There wasn't much pace in the race. When the outside horse (Jersey Jewel) was gunning for it right away I thought that I didn't want to burn my horse up early, so I let her go on with it. But then as we were approaching the turn she was coming over on us to force pressure. I decided I didn't need to get squeezed out and get in trouble, it's five furlongs, you have to let her go. So I let her go again and she was happy to go.

“My main concern was Bramble Bay and I felt going in that I had to open up enough so that Bramble Bay had a lot of ground to make up. I didn't expect him to be that close early on in the stretch. I could hear (jockey) Paco Lopez yelling, I could hear his horse breathing, and I'm screaming to my horse. I love winning that way, when it's really a duel and it takes a horse to show a lot of heart.”

Roselba, a Colonial Farm homebred, paid $5.20 to win in the field of seven Jersey-bred distaffers.

The 5-year-old daughter of Private Interview posted her fourth victory in 16 career starts and is now 2-for-3 sprinting on the grass.

“She's getting better as she gets older,” said Huston. “The other grass race she won she was game in that race as well.

“She is always close (to the speed) early. We figured, as long as she didn't get into a speed duel, she would be fine. Ferrin Peterson had to back off a little bit early on but then made the move for the lead at the right time midway through the backside.”

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Young Bugler A Crowd Favorite At Monmouth Park

For a sport looking to appeal to a younger audience, Dan Minervini is exactly what Thoroughbred racing needs. There's just one problem: Minervini, a constant presence at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. who can be seen humming, miniature bugle in hand, when track bugler Joe Luckenbill issues the “Call to the Post” 10 minutes prior to each race, is just 5 years old.

So racing will have to wait until he can legally participate.

For now, though, his enthusiasm is contagious.

“I like Monmouth Park more than Chuck E. Cheese,” says Minervini, a Middletown, N.J. resident who aspires to be a bugler, which is why he practices prior to each race by humming along with Luckenbill.

With racing at Monmouth Park taking place Friday through Sunday throughout the summer, Minervini and his family are usually in attendance from the first race to the last, with Dan playing his toy bugle, feeding horses and wishing good luck to the jockeys walking out of the paddock.

He will celebrate his sixth birthday on Sunday at Monmouth Park with a special day that will include an appearance in the announcer's booth, playing the “Call to the Post” prior to the second race, and presenting the trophy in the winner's circle following the second race.

Fans have taken to him as a crowd favorite when they watch him play the bugle each race day.

“Monmouth Park is his happy place, and he never wants to leave,” said Stephanie Minervini, Dan's mother. “When we bring him there, he listens to everything we say since it's his favorite place in the world.”

Dan's love for horse racing started before he was even born, according to his mother. The family's Monmouth Park “lifestyle” was passed down two generations, from Dan's grandfather, who took Dan's father, John, to Monmouth Park when he was little.

As a 2-year-old, Dan made it to Monmouth Park for the first time and could be seen feeding apples and carrots to the outriders' horses as they returned to the tunnel that leads to the track. It was during that time that the youngster first heard horse racing's signature call.

“When he was 2 years old, he was feeding the horses there and that's when he started watching Joe (the bugler),” said Stephanie. “One time we went to Monmouth Park and he started mimicking Joe playing the horn, and since then I think we have been stalking him for the last three years.”

Luckenbill says he enjoys sharing the spotlight prior to each race with Minervini.

“I love when he comes around. He's a great kid and he always says something that makes me laugh when I see him,” Luckenbill said. “I would tell him to continue to come to the track and learn from the people here.”

Horse racing and Monmouth Park have become an integral part of Dan's daily life as well. According to his parents, when he is home, the youngster can be heard announcing races, re-enacting his favorite phrase from announcer Frank Mirahmadi, “And they're off at Monmouth Park!”

In addition to attending the races on each live day, Dan Minervini said he wants to “race the ponies.” According to his mother, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he received riding lessons at a local farm in hopes of one day following in the footsteps of his favorite Monmouth Park jockeys — Nik Juarez, Tomas Mejia, Paco Lopez, and Ferrin Peterson.

Juarez and Mejia have made it a point to seek out Dan on race days, often taking pictures with him and even giving him the race goggles they wore in exchange for high-fives. According to his mother, there have even been occasions when Dan and Mejia have shared popcorn while they talk about the upcoming races on the card.

“It's really nice how the jockeys all come out and speak to him, and it makes a huge difference,” said Stephanie Minervini.

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