Keeneland Race Course | Horse Racing Free Tips

Jockey Andres Calleja Relishing Dream Job As He Gets His First Win

Andres Calleja felt like a winner after guiding Bryan Waldridge's War Eagle's Love to a fourth-place finish for trainer Anthony Stephen in Friday's second race at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. The experience fulfilled the 22-year-old's dream of being a jockey and set him on a career course.

“It is indescribable,” Calleja said about the experience while he accepted well wishes from colleagues in the crowd. “There is just so much happening (in the race) with so many moving parts. Trying to focus is definitely something I have to keep practicing. I got as fit and as prepared as I possibly could.”

A graduate of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Calleja is planning a second career while he concentrates on riding racehorses. He has been taking classes at the University of Kentucky with a long-range plan of earning an engineering degree. For now, winning races is his first priority.

“I definitely will be taking some more classes,” he said. “I really like the mathematics. I am not in any rush. That is a future goal. That is something to lean back on, but being a jockey is my dream.”

Calleja learned about racing from his father, Gustavo, who has held various positions in the industry including riding horses at unofficial tracks in Mexico. The younger Calleja had no previous experience in the saddle until he climbed aboard an inexperienced Thoroughbred filly owned by his father. He eventually started riding other people's racehorses while doing barn chores. He met Anthony Stephen at The Thoroughbred Center in north Lexington.

Stephen, a former jockey, recognized Calleja's enthusiasm and dedication and decided to give the youngster his first afternoon mount. Calleja is scheduled to ride again for Stephen in Sunday's fourth race where he is named aboard Americain Joey.

“He works really hard seven days a week,” Stephen said. “He always wants to do more. He knows (War Eagle's Love) really well. He rides her every morning. He gets along with her and that is the main thing – not every jockey fits every horse. He deserved the chance. He did great.”

The post Jockey Andres Calleja Relishing Dream Job As He Gets His First Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Bell’s The One Returns To Churchill After TCA Win At Keeneland

Lothenbach Stables' Bell's the One returned to trainer Neil Pessin's base at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday night following her victory in the six-furlong Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

Pessin reported things were fine this morning with Bell's the One, who added Saturday's score to her victory in the Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run in 2019. In six sprints at Keeneland in her career, Bell's the One has three wins, one second, and two thirds.

The TCA victory secured a fees-paid berth into the $1 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., on Nov. 6. Bell's the One finished third behind champion Gamine in last year's Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland.

Plans are indefinite for Michael and Katherine Ball's Club Car, who came up a neck short of victory.

“Not sure what is next, but it's not going to be the Breeders' Cup,” trainer Ben Colebrook said. “She has been running a lot, 12 times in the past 12 months.”

The post Bell’s The One Returns To Churchill After TCA Win At Keeneland appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Averly Jane Dominates Indian Summer, Punches Ticket To BC Juvenile Turf Sprint

A perfect 3 for 3 in her short career, Averly Jane entered the gate for the Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland a heavy favorite and her front-running turn demonstrated why. From the break to the wire, the filly was dominant under jockey Tyler Gaffalione, earning a spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

At the Lexington, Ky., track, Averly Jane exited post seven quickly, finding the front in the opening strides of the 5 1/2-furlong sprint. Roman Poet and Diamond City traded second and third as Averly Jane held onto a safe lead, Gaffalione gave the filly a short breather on the far turn. Into the stretch, though, the field had no chance to challenge the favorite as she stretched her advantage with ease, hitting the wire three lengths in front. Kaufymaker was second and Circle Back Jack was third.

The final time for the 5 1/2 furlongs was 1:02.65. Find this race's chart here.

Averly Jane paid $3.80, $2.40, and $2.20. Kaufymaker paid $3.40 and $2.80. Circle Back Jack paid $7.00.

The Indian Summer Stakes is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. Winners of Challenge Series races earn a fees-paid, guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the corresponding event at the Breeders' Cup World Championship Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

Bred in Kentucky by the University of Kentucky, Averly Jane is by Midshipman out of the Richter Scale mare Sh Sh Shakin'. Owned by Hat Creek Racing, the 2-year-old filly is trained by Wesley Ward. Consigned by Maine Chance Farm, Averly Jane was sold to Newt Dobbs for $35,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. With her win in the Indian Summer, she maintains her perfect record, 4 for 4, with career earnings of $313,140.

The post Averly Jane Dominates Indian Summer, Punches Ticket To BC Juvenile Turf Sprint appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Letruska Continues Her Dominance Of Distaff Division With Spinster Win

Far and away the best that the distaff division has had to offer in 2021, Letruska demonstrated why she is already the heavy favorite for the Breeders' Cup Distaff, taking the lead right out of the gate in the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes and easily holding off a field of five others at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

Under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., the 5-year-old mare followed the same strategy she used in her last-out victory in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., easily moving to the front as the field ran into the first turn. Setting fractions of :24 for the first quarter and :47.89 for the first half, Ortiz gave his mare a breather on the backside and then picked up the pace again around the far turn.

Into the stretch, Letruska kicked away from the field, putting 3 1/2 lengths between her and second-place Dunbar Road before Ortiz powered her down. At the wire, the daughter of Super Saver was 1 3/4 lengths in front, running the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.01.

Letruska paid $2.80, $2.10, and $2.10. Dunbar Road $3.40 and $2.20. Bonny South paid $2.40.

As part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, Letruska's win in the Spinsters earns her another fees-paid, guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup Distaff. The mare also has victories in other Win and You're In events, including the G1 Ogden Phipps, the G1 Fleur de Lis, and the Personal Ensign.

Bred in Kentucky by owner St. George Stables, Letruska is out of the Successful Appeal mare Magic Appeal. She is trained by Fausto Gutierrez. With her win in the G1 Spinster, the 5-year-old mare has six wins in seven starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of 22-17-1-1 and career earnings of $2,236,459.

The post Letruska Continues Her Dominance Of Distaff Division With Spinster Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post