“We've got the Lafayette circled as his next spot opening day at Keeneland,” trainer Michelle Lovell said. “We'll see if he'll stretch out to seven furlongs. I think that he will.”

Gelded as a juvenile last September, Doncho lit up the tote board with a powerful, five-length tally in front-running fashion at 21-1 on debut Dec. 30. He earned his 'Rising Star' badge by 4 1/2 lengths–this time as the even-money favorite–with a press-and-pounce victory in an optional claimer Feb. 13. Both performances netted matching 94 Beyer Speed Figures.

“I think he could be anything,” Lovell said. “We've never really asked him for anything yet. Everything that he's done has been on his own.”

She continued, “He hasn't been a surprise because he's been a good horse, but it was a surprise that he went so fast, so easily, in his first race. To come back, I thought that he could win, but you never know, they're babies and they could make mistakes. But he's so professional. So far, everything has gone so well.”

As for the decision to geld Doncho as an unraced 2-year-old last year, Lovell added, “We just thought it was best for him physically and mentally at the time.”

Doncho brought $72,000 from Jose A. Lopez's JAL Racing following a :9 4/5 bullet breeze out of the GOP Racing Stable consignment at last year's OBS June sale. Bred in Kentucky by Susan Young, he was previously a $32,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by GGS Legal Racing. He RNA'd for $12,000 as a short yearling at Keeneland January.

The first 'Rising Star' for young Coolmore sire Mo Town, Doncho was produced by the unraced mare Sassy Redhead. This is the extended female family of GISWs Madcap Escapade (Hennessy), Mi Sueno (Pulpit) and Dubai Escapade (Awesome Again).

Members of the press haven't been the only ones ringing Lovell's phone to chat about Doncho.

“After his first race we got a ton of interest,” Lovell said. “Mr. Lopez thought about it. He definitely had some offers that would make you sit back and think for a bit. It took him a few days and he said, 'Nope, I'm keeping him.'”

Damon's Mound & Michelle Lovell following the 2022 Saratoga Special | Susie Raisher

She continued, “We're super excited about him. He's a young horse and is still developing and we're really proud of the way he behaves. He's a big bodied and very muscular horse and he's letting his front end catch up to his hind end the last couple of months. He's a lot of fun.”

Fellow Lovell-trained 'Rising Star' Damon's Mound (Girvin), meanwhile, is currently enjoying some “deserved downtime” at Apple Ridge Farm in Kentucky. The 2022 GII Saratoga Special S. winner and 2023 GII Gallant Bob S. winner was last seen finishing fourth in the GI Malibu S. at Santa Anita Dec. 26.

“We'll have him back at Churchill before too long,” Lovell said.

Wow! A star could be in the making as #6 DONCHO ($4) was impressive again in race 7 at the Fair Grounds and is now 2 for 2 in his young career. The 3yo son of Mo Town was ridden by @jaimetorresjcky and is trained by @MichelleLovell.

Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/1ro4nZYU8D

— TVG (@TVG) February 13, 2024

The post ‘He Could Be Anything’ – Unbeaten Doncho Targeting Keeneland’s Lafayette appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The even-money favorite forced the issue from an outside second, poked his head in front approaching the quarter pole and blasted off for home to win by an impressive 4 1/2 lengths while stopping the clock for six furlongs in a very sharp 1:09.52. Cats By Five (Audible) was second.

The 3-year-old gelding earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure in a front-running, five-length debut score at odds of 21-1 at Fair Grounds Dec. 30.

Doncho, a $32,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $72,000 OBS June bullet breezer (:9 4/5), is the first 'TDN Rising Star' for young sire Mo Town. The 2016 GII Remsen S. winner and 2017 GI Hollywood Derby winner also received the 'Rising Star' nod in his second career start.

Doncho's unraced dam Sassy Redhead, a $14,000 RNA most recently at the 2019 KEENOV sale, is also represented by a 2-year-old filly by Lord Nelson. Sassy Redhead was bred to Idol for 2024. This is the extended female family of GISWs Madcap Escapade (Hennessy), Mi Sueno (Pulpit) and Dubai Escapade (Awesome Again).

7th-Fair Grounds, $58,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 2-13, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.52, ft, 4 1/2 lengths.
DONCHO, g, 3, by Mo Town
                1st Dam: Sassy Redhead, by Henny Hughes
                2nd Dam: Sass Me, by Carson City
                3rd Dam: Sassy Pants, by Saratoga Six
Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $66,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV and for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-JAL Racing; B-Susan Young (KY); T-Michelle Lovell. *$12,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $32,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $72,000 2yo '23 OBSOPN.

Wow! A star could be in the making as #6 DONCHO ($4) was impressive again in race 7 at the Fair Grounds and is now 2 for 2 in his young career. The 3yo son of Mo Town was ridden by @jaimetorresjcky and is trained by @MichelleLovell.

Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/1ro4nZYU8D

— TVG (@TVG) February 13, 2024

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How do the two experiences compare?

“Riding here back in the day, I was just super in awe of the place,” Lovell explained. “Obviously who wouldn't want to come here and have a go at it? But honestly, bringing Damon's Mound as my first Saratoga starter, I mean that's what dreams are made of, right?”

Damon's Mound is a sixth-generation homebred for Cliff and Michele Love and the first horse Lovell has trained for the Texas-based owners. The horsewoman said her connection with the couple started early this year with a cold call from Cliff.

“Thank goodness I answered the phone,” she said with a laugh. “I knew his name because I used to race in Texas. It was just a really nice person on the other end of the line who said they had a 2-year-old training in Ocala that they thought a lot of. He said he had done a lot of research and decided he wanted me as a trainer if I had a stall. We get these calls as trainers every so often and sometimes the horse doesn't pan out or the owners don't call back, but they kept in touch and when Damon's Mound was ready, he showed up at my barn–this big, beautiful 2-year-old.”

Lovell took an immediate liking to the striking bay colt, who is named after a 146 foot-tall limestone formation outside of the town of Damon, Texas.

Lovell, Damon's Mound and Gabriel Saez celebrate the GII Saratoga Special victory | Susie Raisher

“He was obviously raised right,” she said. “He was broke by Ocala Stud's David O'Farrell and I had lots of contact with him after I got him in. He told me that he was always professional and that he really liked him. We got him in the spring and he never missed a day. He was obviously well-broke. He was actually fit for a half-mile as they said, which sometimes doesn't happen.”

When Damon's Mound was named a 'TDN Rising Star' after his stunning 12 1/2-length obliteration of maidens at Churchill Downs on July 2, Lovell and the Loves were inundated with inquiries about purchasing the promising juvenile. All were turned down.

“We had dozens of calls and text messages,” Lovell shared. “We had some really nice offers from good people that have been in the business for a long time who said they would be happy to be a silent partner along for the ride, but Cliff just said he was going to share this with his wife.”

Despite Love's initial words, Lovell said she couldn't help harboring a few thoughts that the owner's mind might change if Damon's Mound was just as brilliant in his second start as he was in his debut.

“It was always in the back of my mind,” she admitted. “I just thought that I would have to wish them well and understand that it's a business and it happens. I was just grateful to have him to begin with.”

Before leaving for Saratoga, Lovell had the conversation with the Loves of what would happen if they came back with a win in the Saratoga Special.

“We really didn't think we would be worse than second,” Lovell said. “With Gulfport (Uncle Mo) in there we knew we had our work cut out for us, but we thought we could be in the winner's circle. Cliff just told me, 'If he wins they're going to be calling again, but he's still not for sale. You're my spokesperson and he's not for sale.'”

A caravan that included Lovell, Damon's Mound, Elwood (Lovell's speckled pony with a following of his own) and Roy Seales (Lovell's groom with a background working in New York racing) made the journey from their summer base at Colonial Downs Racetrack in Virginia to Saratoga. They shipped in to Mike Maker's barn, which overlooks the main track's far turn.

Change of Control settling into the same stall Damon's Mound occupied in Saratoga last week | Michelle Lovell

“The first day we were here, he could see the racing and it kind of got him excited,” Lovell said. “He watched really intensely, but then the next day, he slept all day.”

Two days before the big day, Damon's Mound had a similar laid-back attitude as he schooled in the paddock alongside his highly regarded competitor Gulfport.

“He walked in through the crowd with such confidence and poise,” Lovell said. “Especially for a young horse in his second time out, he just owns it. I couldn't have been more proud of him.”

Damon's Mound got another look at 2-5 favorite Gulfport as he trailed the rest of a four-horse field through the opening stages of the Saratoga Special, but after being asked by jockey Gabriel Saez, Damon's Mound made his move at the far turn and accelerated to a 3 1/4-length victory.

“We were confident going in, but you get a little nervous,” Lovell admitted as she reflected on the race.  “He gives you all the confidence because his demeanor is great. He's humble, too. He's proud of himself, but he's a humble horse. It was an awesome day. It couldn't have been more perfect.”

Of course, more offers came in for the new Grade II victor, but Lovell said word has spread that for now, the colt is in her barn to stay.

“It's a great thing that people are interested because obviously he's a very talented 2-year-old with a great future in front of him, but it's refreshing not to have to field those calls and text messages,” Lovell admitted. “I'm truly grateful to Cliff and Michele that they want to be on this journey. They've been waiting for it for a long time, so kudos to them for sticking to their guns. It's a great story for them.”

The Loves were not present for the victory in Saratoga, opting to enjoy the race together at home and plan to attend their stable star's next start.

Damon's Mound returned to Colonial Downs late on Sunday and Lovell reported that he has come out of the race in perfect form. She is still weighing her options for where the Florida-bred could make his next start, considering either the GIII Iroquois S. at Churchill on Sept. 17 or the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland on Oct. 8.

While Damon's Mound has already resumed light jogging at Colonial Downs, Lovell is back in New York this weekend with her second Saratoga starter. On Saturday, Change of Control (Fed Biz) will race from post one in the Smart N Fancy S. The 6-year-old mare finished fourth by three lengths to eventual GI Fourstardave H. winner Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) in the GI Jaipur S. and followed that effort with a stakes win at Colonial Downs on July 18.

“She's coming into this race really well off her win at Colonial,” Lovell reported. “It was nice to get a little class relief there and that will set her up well for this race. There are some good mares in there, so there's no doubt it will be a nice race. Hopefully we get a nice trip.”

It certainly can't hurt that while in Saratoga, Change of Control is staying in the same stall that Damon's Mound occupied last weekend.

“It would be awesome to be two-for-two up here,” Lovell said. “That would be the cherry on top.”

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Gulfport's connections remain entitled to optimism for any rematch, having seen him badly checked before rallying for second. Be that as it may, it seems safe to assume that the winner's breeder, Cliff Love, is again being pestered by agents with fresh offers. But while we must pay tribute to the perseverance of his family, on suddenly conjuring this sudden blossom from a page that is a virtual snowfield, in terms of black type, by the same token Damon's Mound must be counted a real feather in the cap of his young sire.

Something, after all, must explain how this line has come to life after being so anonymously seeded for several decades. The first four dams of Damon's Mound are respectively by Stroll, The Prime Minister, Ruhlmann and Temerity Prince. His mother San Antonio Stroll did muster a couple of stakes placings, on turf at Retama Park, but the level at which she showed commendable consistency (won three of 14) can be judged from career earnings of $75,001. And otherwise the page ekes out its next black type only in his third dam's half-brother, courtesy of a 13-length debut third among Texas-breds. (His two wins would eventually follow under tags of $12,500 and $7,500.)

Given that he had already drawn attention to himself with Devious Dame, as impressive in the Astoria S. at Belmont as when becoming his first starter and first winner at Churchill in May, Girvin merits an appraisal as one of the early achievers in the annual shake-out between talk and deeds in the notoriously hyped freshman scene.

David O'Farrell, whose family stands Girvin at their Ocala Stud, was delighted not only that he happened to be in town for the Saratoga Special, but that he was also asked to represent his valued clients in the winner's circle.

“Cliff and Michele couldn't be there, and they were very gracious,” O'Farrell says. “It was a great day for us, the whole family was there. As far as I can tell, Cliff doesn't seem interested in selling the horse. He turned down offers after the maiden win, he's excited, and he's marching on. It's a feelgood story. Most people sell. And most people, no disrespect to Michelle Lovell or Gabriel Saez, would maybe not be so loyal to the people that got them there. Cliff could probably have hired six Hall of Fame caliber riders that were available, but he stuck with his jock and shipped him up. And was rewarded for it. It was great to see, and it's great for the game.

“The dam is their only mare that we board. Cliff is obviously a Girvin fan: he called me when we had just acquired the horse, to see if we had room, and he's now bred to him four years in a row. So, he now has a yearling filly, a weanling colt, and the mare's back in foal. The filly's remarkable. The mare has produced some good-looking babies. But it's true, she has no pedigree to speak of.”

If some of us feel uncomfortable with the all-then-nothing commercial stampede to unproven sires, that does at least tend to permit some kind of early judgement to be made. In most cases, his first book tends to prove the biggest and best a stallion ever gets. The opportunity will still prove too fleeting for most, however, so the very least we can do is congratulate those farms that do generate some momentum in this very tough environment; and explore why that might be happening.

Ocala Stud, after all, appeared to be offering Florida breeders something a little different when welcoming Girvin, who had made his solitary juvenile start only the week before Christmas. In doing so, true, he outpaced a subsequent graded-stakes sprinter over six furlongs at the Fair Grounds, before ending the meet as its premier Classic hope as winner of both the GII Risen Star S. and the GII Louisiana Derby. He never really cleared traffic at Churchill, however, and was then nailed on the line in the GIII Ohio Derby. That prompted a waiting ride in the GI Haskell S., where he beat McCraken (Ghostzapper) and Practical Joke (Into Mischief). That was a peak he never retrieved in three subsequent starts, the last of which lucklessly proved to be the only one he managed when connections persevered the following year.

As a result, he was hardly fresh in people's minds when starting out at $7,500 in 2019. Nor did his own paternity seem particularly resonant: though Tale Of Ekati represents a top-class family, Girvin remains his only elite winner and only millionaire. On the other hand, Girvin did bring two pretty priceless advantages to his new career. One was the seasoned assistance of the O'Farrell family; and the other was the fact that his own dynasty has gradually become highly esteemed itself.

Sure enough, Girvin proved the busiest Florida debutant of the year, with 149 mares. He corralled 124 in his second season, too, before taking the customary “bubble” dip to 63 when trimmed to $6,000 in 2021. This time round he rallied to 90 mares, as the word got out from the under-tack shows.

“I think, in today's world, his third and fourth years were quite successful,” O'Farrell says. “It's hard to maintain those early books but this year we got a huge push from the 2-year-old sales. The majority of the seasons were sold after the March and April Sales here at O.B.S., where he made a big splash, so it felt like a lot of people jumped on him late.”

The O'Farrells themselves, of course, have long specialized in breeding for the 2-year-old sales. It's a precarious model, taking on competition that can select stock specifically for the job, but they have honed it with great flair since Joe O'Farrell started Rough'n Tumble here in 1956. The following year the pioneer horseman staged the first commercial 2-year-old sale at Hialeah Park, selling 16 head under canvas at an average of around $5,000. That whole market has come a long way since–but so, too, have the broodmares and facilities developed by Joe's son Mike and grandsons David and Joe.

Girvin might not have seemed an obvious type for their program. “But he broke his maiden as a 2-year-old up on the pace,” O'Farrell emphasizes. “That was a big plus for us when we were pursuing him. He did have that precocity, and while obviously he was best going two turns, and was a Classic type of horse, his half-brother Cocked And Loaded set a track record sprinting at Keeneland, and he has Yes It's True in his pedigree [as granddam's sire]. He had plenty in there that gave us confidence.”

Certainly Girvin did not let the farm down when making his sales debut. A colt pinhooked as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select yearling, by Bet Racing for $90,000, catapulted his value to $725,000 when sold by Paul Sharp to Donato Lanni for Michael Lund Peterson at the same house's Midatlantic Sale. Among his other scores was the home-bred Devious Dame, out of an unraced Quality Road mare. (She's called The Shady Lady, which looks a neat play on the farm's historic address on Shady Road.) Devious Dame made $240,000 from One Up Bloodstock before joining Norm Casse for John C. Oxley. Overall Girvin ended up processing 40 of 43 juveniles at an average $91,925. That confirmed him as No. 1 Florida freshman, as had been the case with his yearling average of $35,371.

The flamboyant stakes scores of Devious Dame and Damon's Mound, plus five other winners, represent a significant early marker from just 17 starters to date. (A couple of the four Kentucky sires currently above Girvin in the rookies' table have fielded twice as many starters.)

“It's really good to see them showing all this early speed,” O'Farrell says. “But you have to believe that they are going to carry it, that they're going to want to stretch out. Devious Dame has been extremely impressive sprinting but they're itching to stretch her out in the Sorority S. at Monmouth next weekend.”

O'Farrell believes that the sire's physique corroborates that potential. “He's a good-sized horse,” he says. “Extremely athletic-looking, really a flashy individual. He looks like they could be quick, but also has that two-turn look so that they can carry all that speed.”

As intimated earlier, interest in Girvin has been much enhanced by the upgrading of what was already a strong page.

It had always been intriguing that Girvin's second dam, dual stakes winner Catch My Fancy (Yes It's True), is inbred as close as 3×2 to the 29-for-45 Bayou legend Monique Rene (Prince Of Ascot). Besides producing one graded stakes winner herself, Monique Rene also delivered the dams of three others: Silver Max, a collector's item as a Grade I winner by Badge Of Silver; Canadian champion sophomore Kiss A Native (Kissin Kiss); and Catch My Fancy's own sire Yes It's True.

Incidentally, Monique Rene also shores up a quality I always seek: the caliber of those mares that complement the “proven” females introduced to a pedigree by stallion sons. In Girvin's case, the mares in question across the fourth generation are the Claiborne matriarch Narrate (Honest Pleasure); champion sprinter (and dam of another such) Gold Beauty (Mr. Prospector); the Group 1-winning juvenile, dual Classic-placed Maximova (Fr) (Green Dancer); and Monique Rene. In other words, this horse is backed up by a layer of unbroken genetic class.

When Girvin was first offered to breeders, his unraced dam Catch The Moon (Malibu Moon) had already produced a GIII Iroquois S. winner in first foal Cocked And Loaded (Colonel John). But then, in the months after Girvin's first foals hit the straw, his younger brother by Tiznow began to decorate the page in compelling fashion.

Grade I-placed at two, Midnight Bourbon had to settle for placings in the two New Orleans trials won by his half-brother, but then ran sixth in the Derby and second in the Preakness. After athletically averting disaster in the Haskell, he recovered to make the podium in another four Grade I events only to be lost to a horribly abrupt sickness this spring.

In the meantime another of Girvin's siblings, Pirate's Punch (Shanghai Bobby), had matured to become their dam's fourth graded stakes winner. One way or another, then, Catch My Fancy has proved to be a pretty inspired acquisition by Stonestreet for $240,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale.

“No question, it's a very live family,” O'Farrell says. “Lot of activity going on. Look, he is by Tale Of Ekati, which is really the primary reason why we got the opportunity to stand the horse. If he was by Into Mischief, he would have stood in Kentucky from day one. But that's kind of our m.o. We've been able to stand stallions maybe by less fashionable sires, and have our track record with Trippi being by End Sweep; and Montbrook being by Buckaroo; and Kantharos being by Lion Heart. But Girvin has a really good bottom side, a great family. And don't forget Tale Of Ekati is very well bred, too.”

Catch My Fancy had made only a fairly brief transit through the ownership of Bob Austin, who had bought her in the same ring in January 2013, for just $30,000 (with Cocked And Loaded in utero). Austin had been at a party hosted by Darby Dan when invited to throw a dart at a board divided into free nominations. He landed on Tale Of Ekati and, with all four mares in his small program already booked for that spring, partnered with John Witte to pick out Catch My Fancy from the January catalog to take up the free date.

The resulting colt was Girvin, who was sold for $130,000 as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton October. He was intended as a pinhook by Brad Grady, but suffered a minor setback at the wrong time. Grady retained the colt to race in his own silks, and the rest is history.

And, actually, there's a neat sequel. Grady named Girvin for his tiny home community in rural West Texas–just as the stallion's breakout star was named by his Houston-based, owner-breeder for a cherished childhood hangout in the same state.

With a colt and filly quickly making waves, however, Girvin has already proved that he will not be a lone star stallion. Of course, these remain very early days. With his two-turn profile, however, O'Farrell can turn round and argue how that's actually very much in his favor.

“What also gives us a ton of confidence is that we know of others yet to start that are showing a lot of potential,” he says, noting that Girvin's big-money colt has followed another Lund Peterson investment at Timonium, Gamine (Into Mischief), to Bob Baffert. “We've only heard positive things about that horse so far, and I've heard a lot of buzz about a lot of others that are just getting ready to start. There's a lot of positivity.”

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“Everything's on our radar,” said Lovell. “We'll see how he is. He's never had a bad day, so I don't expect him to.”

Damon's Mound was awarded an 86 Beyer Speed Figure for his defeat of fellow 'Rising Star' Gulfport (Uncle Mo) Saturday.

“He's been so great,” said Lovell. “Everything went to perfection. Even the way the race set up. We were really happy to track the frontrunners. [Jockey] Gabriel [Saez] put an excellent ride on him. The rest is history. It's in the history books.”

Lovell is a former jockey and posted three runner-up efforts at Saratoga during her time in the saddle, but was thrilled to finally have her picture taken Saturday.

“We celebrated at dinner,” said Lovell. “I took my groom and some friends and just had a nice dinner. I had so many congrats from so many people. Saratoga is super special, obviously, that's an understatement. Getting to [be in the winner's circle] was awesome.”

Breeders' Cup Mile Likely Plan For Casa Creed…

After finishing third in the GI Fourstardave H. in each of the past two seasons, LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable's Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) finally got over the hump Saturday with a last-to-first defeat of odds-on 'TDN Rising Star' Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) at the Spa. The 6-year-old was earning his third career top-level success on the weekend, having most recently successfully defended his title in the six-furlong GI Jaipur S. on the Belmont S. undercard June 11. But where it comes to a future appearance on Breeders' Cup weekend, part-owner Lee Einsidler is fairly certain of where the entire will end up.

“[The Turf Sprint] is only 5 1/2 [furlongs] sprinting at Keeneland, which is a little short for him,” Einsidler said. “From what we saw yesterday, if all goes according to plan, I'm sure we'll show up in the Mile as long as he's training great and feels great.”

Casa Creed has faced the starter in the Mile the last two years, finishing 12th to Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) at Keeneland in 2020 and eighth behind Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) last year at Del Mar. Einsidler, who owns Casa Creed in partnership with New York sports radio personality Mike Francesa, is confident his charge can go better this time around.

“[Trainer] Bill Mott and I were in his stall a few weeks ago and he said 'Lee, he's better today than he's ever been in his entire career.' He's just been flourishing,” Einsidler recalled. “They say a lot of horses are at their best at five. Yesterday was the best performance of his career and he's a 6-year-old. He's just amazing. I'd say right now, he's at the total top of his game.”

Casa Creed, who was just touched off in the G3 1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia and was a sound fifth in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, could make one interim start prior to the Breeders' Cup, but could also be trained straight into the race, Einsidler said.

“If he's telling us he has to run, we'll run him there which is fine because you got four weeks to the Breeders' Cup and a trip over the course,” Einsidler said. “He's run there before, but now he's much better today than he was then. So, I think the idea of running him over there makes all the sense in the world, but if Mott wants to wait and train him up to the Breeders' Cup, that's why he's in the Hall of Fame. He makes those decisions.”

   And 2022 may not be the end of the road.

“If he stays sound and he's doing great, we'll run him next year,” said Einsidler. “There's a stallion career somewhere for him, but I'm all about racing so that's what we're going to do.”

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“That's the goal, he's doing great,” former jockey-turned-trainer Michelle Lovell said from her summer base at Colonial Downs. “We've got some weeks to go, so, hopefully all goes good. As long as he's doing great, he deserves the opportunity.”

Does he ever.

Off as the well-backed, third choice at 4-1 in his unveiling, Damon's Mound was off to a slow start from post four in the 11-horse field. He made very quick progress, however, to track under a nice hold in a four-wide fifth through a sharp opening quarter in :21.84.

The handsome bay cruised up four deep beneath Gabriel Saez approaching the quarter pole, gained control in effortless fashion as they straightened and put on a show beneath the Twin Spires to stop the timer for six furlongs in 1:09.84 in 'TDN Rising Star' fashion.

Damon's Mound earned a very strong 84 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“I was in awe of watching him do it,” Lovell said. “We had high hopes that he'd run great, but it really was a special performance from him. It was great to share it with my crew and his owners. Obviously, he brought a lot of attention to himself.”

She continued, “He's always been wonderful training and has done everything perfectly. The only thing we were lacking was him being sharp away from the gates. Hopefully, he learns a little bit more from the race.”

Members of the press aren't the only ones who have been blowing up Lovell's cell phone since Damon's Mound's smashing debut victory.

“There was a high demand for him within minutes of him crossing the wire,” Lovell said. “They haven't stopped asking [if he's for sale], but it's slowed down now because we've said no to so many people. Obviously, when he won, I was thrilled and I was elated how he did it. But soon after, I realized that I may not be training him for his second race. So, it was a roller coaster ride from when he hit the wire. His owners are super. They're excited and want to run their horse.”

Damon's Mound is a homebred for Cliff and Michele Love. The Florida-bred is the first foal out of their multiple stakes-placed mare San Antonio Stroll (Stroll). He is one of five winners for quick-starting freshman sire Girvin (Tale of Ekati). Damon's Mound is the first horse that Lovell has trained for the Texas-based couple.

“His grandparents lived in Texas and that's a place where Mr. Love spent a lot of time with his cousins when he was a child,” Lovell said of Damon's Mound's namesake. “It was a special place for him as a child.”

Lovell began training in 2003 and enjoyed a career-best year in earnings with $1,872,883 in 2021, led by standout sprinters MGSW Change of Control (Fed Biz) and MSW & MGSP Just Might (Justin Phillip). Lovell co-owns and co-bred the latter, an earner of $958,100. She currently trains 30 head, a number she is quite content with.

“We've had a great couple of years,” Lovell said. “One of the reasons why Mr. and Mrs. Love chose me to train, I believe, was right after Just Might won a race for me. Not only did he win seven stakes last year, some wonderful people called me up and said, 'I've got a 2-year-old coming your way if you have empty stalls.'”

She concluded, “It's great obviously to have him in the barn–there's a lot of buzz. He's just super talented and special. It's really fun.”

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O-Michele & Cliff Love; B-Cliff Love (FL); T-Michelle Lovell.

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Impressively taking over early and winning the turf sprint by 2 ¾ lengths geared down late, Just Might was disqualified and placed 8th after the stewards ruled his move to the rail as impeding a foe's ability to get out of harm's way. Winning or finishing 1st in 7 out of his last 8 starts, his lone miss came in the Phoenix (G2) when he grabbed his quarter.

“People don't send me horses that could to go to Dubai,” Lovell said. “I had to raise one, which is crazy. I got to make every call in this horse's career and it makes me feel good that we got this far.

“Yeah, Dubai,” Lovell mused and spoke to Just Might in his stall. “It's a big step, Pappa. I think they have to give an official invite, too–they've asked me a few times to nominate. I think they want me to nominate.”

“It's a straight six furlongs,” Lovell continued. “We have nowhere to practice, but you know he probably will be okay. He runs his turns pretty good and he does make his little move right there sometimes. But he leans out in the turns so maybe he will be a little better going in a straight line. He leans out in every race just because he is going pretty fast and the turns on the turf are just sharper. He just runs.”

“He has really matured a lot this past year,” Lovell said. “I think one of his best races maturing in his brain as a race horse, not just raw talent but figuring it out, was when he ran and beat Johnny Ortiz' horse, Mucho, at Colonial. It was on the dirt which was a little scary for me, six furlongs which was stretching him out more. He actually dug in and won that race. And he lost his shoe somewhere in the race, too. He never took a bad step, he never tore his foot up but he did run the race with his left shoe off. And he dug in really hard–that day he grew up, really fighting that nice horse that Johnny has. And he broke the track record, which they don't really say a new track record because they didn't run a lot of races on the dirt there. He ran a 1:07 and change.”

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Change of Control, who already registered a pair of graded stakes wins in her 5-year-old campaign, including a last-out score in the Grade 3 Franklin County in October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., made a successful debut at the Big A, tallying her fourth stakes win of 2021 for trainer Michelle Lovell.

The fifth running of the Autumn Days saw Athwaaq break on top from post 6, leading the eight-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in :23.26 and the half in :46.28 over firm going. Jockey Colby Hernandez tucked Change of Control in third position near the rail, with the pocket position enabling her to move up to second out of the turn.

Once straightened for home, Change of Control capitalized with the open seam from the inside, overtaking a tiring Athwaaq. Hernandez kept his charge to task as Too Sexy rallied to pass three rivals, gaining in the shadow of the wire before Change of Control completed the course in a 1:09.14 final time to improve to 4-2-3 in 10 starts this year.

Hernandez's rail-riding trip earned Change of Control, off at 7-2, a winner's circle trip, returning $9.90 on a $2 win bet. She improved her career earnings to $739,257.

“She gave us a good break and I was right there,” Hernandez said. “I tried to pop out and run second but they weren't letting me out. I saw the horse on the front looked like she was going to come out at the top of the stretch and we stayed there and it ended up working out perfect.

“Every single time she runs, it's like she gets better,” he added. “She's just a cool horse, does nothing wrong, and anything you ask her, she does. She's a very cool horse to ride.”

Change of Control, bred in Kentucky by John O' Meara, is 2-for-2 at NYRA-operated tracks this year after winning the G3 Intercontinental in June at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

“Colby rode her perfect. He never panicked,” Lovell said. “He stayed right there on the inside and she just looked awesome. She did well in New York when we sent her up to Belmont in the summer, so I just thought this race was a really good spot. The owner gave us a lot of time finding the best races for her. She's really thriving and coming into her own.”
Lovell said Change of Control will now winter in Louisiana in preparing for her 6-year-old year in 2022 before embarking on the next phase of her career.

“She'll go to Fair Grounds for the winter. We'll try to map out her races really well over the winter, spring, and summertime, and then she'll go to the breeding shed,” Lovell said. “I'm not really sure what our plan is from here, but she'll come back to Churchill and come to Fair Grounds with the rest of my barn.”

Too Sexy, trained by Christophe Clement, topped the slow-starting Love And Thunder by one length for second. Jockey Jose Lezcano, who was aboard for Too Sexy's last-out win in the Floral Park in October at Belmont, said the outcome might have been different with a slightly more advantageous trip.

“She broke well and I had to wait a little bit until the eighth pole,” Lezcano said. “She gave a very good race and ran strong. She did everything right, the winner is just a very good horse. I think she also got a better trip than I got. I had to go between horses and she got through on the inside.”

Miss Majorette, Piedi Bianchi, Athwaaq, Raven's Cry, and Secure Connection completed the order of finish.

Live racing resumes Thursday at the Big A with a nine-race card. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The post Change Of Control Rides Rail To Victory In Autumn Day At Aqueduct appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Change of Control, who already registered a pair of graded stakes wins in her 5-year-old campaign, including a last-out score in the Grade 3 Franklin County in October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., made a successful debut at the Big A, tallying her fourth stakes win of 2021 for trainer Michelle Lovell.

The fifth running of the Autumn Days saw Athwaaq break on top from post 6, leading the eight-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in :23.26 and the half in :46.28 over firm going. Jockey Colby Hernandez tucked Change of Control in third position near the rail, with the pocket position enabling her to move up to second out of the turn.

Once straightened for home, Change of Control capitalized with the open seam from the inside, overtaking a tiring Athwaaq. Hernandez kept his charge to task as Too Sexy rallied to pass three rivals, gaining in the shadow of the wire before Change of Control completed the course in a 1:09.14 final time to improve to 4-2-3 in 10 starts this year.

Hernandez's rail-riding trip earned Change of Control, off at 7-2, a winner's circle trip, returning $9.90 on a $2 win bet. She improved her career earnings to $739,257.

“She gave us a good break and I was right there,” Hernandez said. “I tried to pop out and run second but they weren't letting me out. I saw the horse on the front looked like she was going to come out at the top of the stretch and we stayed there and it ended up working out perfect.

“Every single time she runs, it's like she gets better,” he added. “She's just a cool horse, does nothing wrong and anything you ask her, she does. She's a very cool horse to ride.”

Change of Control, bred in Kentucky by John O' Meara, is 2-for-2 at NYRA-operated tracks this year after winning the G3 Intercontinental in June at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

“Colby rode her perfect. He never panicked,” Lovell said. “He stayed right there on the inside and she just looked awesome. She did well in New York when we sent her up to Belmont in the summer, so I just thought this race was a really good spot. The owner gave us a lot of time finding the best races for her. She's really thriving and coming into her own.”

Lovell said Change of Control will now winter in Louisiana in preparing for her 6-year-old year in 2022 before embarking on the next phase of her career.

“She'll go to Fair Grounds for the winter. We'll try to map out her races really well over the winter, spring, and summertime, and then she'll go to the breeding shed,” Lovell said. “I'm not really sure what our plan is from here, but she'll come back to Churchill and come to Fair Grounds with the rest of my barn.”

Too Sexy, trained by Christophe Clement, topped the slow-starting Love And Thunder by one length for second. Jockey Jose Lezcano, who was aboard for Too Sexy's last-out win in the Floral Park in October at Belmont, said the outcome might have been different with a slightly more advantageous trip.

“She broke well and I had to wait a little bit until the eighth pole,” Lezcano said. “She gave a very good race and ran strong. She did everything right, the winner is just a very good horse. I think she also got a better trip than I got. I had to go between horses and she got through on the inside.”

Miss Majorette, Piedi Bianchi, Athwaaq, Raven's Cry, and Secure Connection completed the order of finish.

Live racing resumes Thursday at the Big A with a nine-race card. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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