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Flavien Prat Pilots Four Winners Monday At Santa Anita

Claimed out of a double digit defeat for $40,000 in her most recent start, the Leonard Powell-trained Bye Bye Bertie left seven rivals in her wake as she powered home to a 5 ½ length win in Monday's $63,000 Santa Anita allowance feature. Originally scheduled to be ridden by Victor Espinoza, she provided leading man Flavien Prat with his fourth win on the day and 15th through seven racing days while covering one mile in 1:37.98.

Hustled from her outside post position, Bye Bye Bertie was caught five-wide into the Club House turn but settled nicely in the run up the backside for Prat. Into the bridle and on the move around the far turn, she was three-deep turning for home and easily blew by Stella Noir and heavily favored Moraz as she marched home under a vigorous hand ride.

“She broke well but we got stuck wide early,” said Prat, who picked the mount up Monday morning from Victor Espinoza, who departed earlier to attend his mother's funeral in Mexico. “We were able to tuck in on the backside and she kicked on very well through the stretch.”

Beaten 12 ½ lengths in a first condition allowance/optional claimer on Aug. 22 at Del Mar, Bye Bye Bertie was entered for an optional $50,000 tag today and was off at 5-1, returning $12.60, $4.40 and $3.00.

“She was quite nervous when we got her,” said Powell. “She's settled quite a bit and we were hoping she'd run well.”

A 5-year-old mare by the Distorted Humor stallion Alternation, out of the Ready's Image mare Dream of Bertie, Bye Bye Bertie has been a popular commodity at the claim box. Haltered for $50,000 three starts back at Churchill Downs on May 31, she was claimed out of a $40,000 win at one mile on turf July 17 at Del Mar prior to her last start on Aug. 22.

Owned by Gatto Racing, LLC, All Schlaich Stables, LLC, Mathilde Powell, Arthur Spencer and James Cahill, Bye Bye Bertie, in her first start at Santa Anita, picked up $37,800 for the win, increasing her earnings to $230,888 from an overall race record of 18-7-1-2.

Forwardly placed into the far turn, Moraz had no answer for the winner and checked in second, 3 ¾ lengths in front of Stella Noir. Third three starts back in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks, she was off at 3-5 with Umberto Rispoli up and paid $2.60 and $2.20.

Sent to the lead from the rail by Edwin Maldonado, Stella Noir was done turning for home and finished three lengths better than longshot Sweet Pearl. Off at 5-1, Stella Noir paid $2.80 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.46, 46.94, 1:12.31 and 1:25.05.

Live racing resumes with first post time for a nine-race card on Friday at 1 p.m.

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Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund Telethon Scheduled For Oct. 17

Hall of Fame jockeys, TVG's on-air talent and other prominent racing personalities will once again take to the phones on Sunday, Oct. 17 as TVG and The Jockeys Guild host the third annual telethon to raise money for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).

The event, canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, raised $330,000 in 2019, an increase of more than $100,000 over the inaugural event in 2018. Fan favorite jockeys of today and years past will be on hand live at call centers in California and Kentucky from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET. Throughout the day, TVG will be connecting with personalities and horsemen who have been involved with the PDJF's work in support of jockeys who have suffered serious on-track injuries.

“We sincerely appreciate the support of TVG and FanDuel to help raise critical funds for the PDJF through the telethon. Many jockeys will be taking part in the telethon by answering the phones when fans call in to make a donation. This telethon will help in providing the monthly monetary assistance to riders whose lives have been forever changed by a catastrophic on-track accident,” said Jockeys' Guild President and CEO Terry Meyocks.

Mike Smith will be joined by Gary Stevens, Kent Desormeaux, Chris McCarron, Pat Day, Sandy Hawley, Laffit Pincay Jr, Alex Solis, Jean Cruguet, Mike Manganello, Shane Sellers, Darrel McHargue, Mickey Solomone and others who will be on hand to participate in the 2021 Telethon. Also on the call will be leading jockeys riding at Keeneland and Santa Anita that day.

“On behalf of the PDJF Board of Directors, we are grateful to have this opportunity as the PDJF's mission would not be possible if not for these types of fundraising efforts and the support of the racing fans,” said Nancy LaSala, PDJF President. “We want to thank TVG and FanDuel, the Jockeys Guild, horse owners, Hall of Fame jockeys, jockeys from around the country as well as our industry partners who support PDJF.”

“We are proud to work alongside the Guild to support the PDJF in its mission to provide care and resources to injured riders,” said Kevin Grigsby, TVG executive producer. “We hope that our telethon is able to continue to raise awareness for the incredible risk jockeys in the United States undertake every day.

Fans are encouraged to donate by calling 1-844-TVG-PDJF or through the PDJF website.

The PDJF is a registered 501(c)3 charity that provides financial assistance to former jockeys who have suffered on-track injuries. Since its foundation in 2006, PDJF has disbursed over $11 million to support disabled jockeys, the organization is 100% reliant on charitable donations.

When: Sunday, October 17th, 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET

Where: TVG, TVG.com

Who: Mike Smith, Gary Stevens, Kent Desormeaux, Chris McCarron, Pat Day, Sandy Hawley, Laffit Pincay Jr, Alex Solis, Jean Cruguet, Mike Manganello, Shane Sellers, Darrel McHargue, Mickey Solomone and more

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Jimmy Bell To Retire From Godolphin USA; Michael Banahan Accepts Expanded Role

Godolphin announced today that president and racing manager Jimmy Bell will retire from his day-to-day involvement at its USA division by the end of the year.

Dan Pride, chief operating officer of Godolphin, USA, said, “Jimmy Bell is the bedrock that Godolphin USA is built upon. His history with Jonabell is well known and he has faithfully served 20 years molding us into what we are today. He is a friend to many of us and always an example of how to live your life and focus on what is important.”

When the Bell family's Jonabell Farm was acquired by HH Sheikh Mohammed in 2001, Bell was retained in his current role which guaranteed a smooth transition after the purchase. Bell commented, “My 20 years with Godolphin have been nothing short of a dream come true. More special have been the friendships and fellowships I've developed with so many folks here at Team Godolphin. It's been my privilege and pleasure to work alongside so many wonderful colleagues.”

Bell also indicated that while he's stepping back from his responsibilities at Godolphin's Jonabell location, he'll still be very active with the organization as its representative on several industry boards. He currently serves as president of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and is a member of the board of the Breeders' Cup and the Fayette Alliance, as well as the Keeneland Advisory Board.

Michael Banahan, currently the director of farm operations and the longest serving Darley/Godolphin USA employee, will transition to the role of director of bloodstock by the end of the year. This new role will encompass Bell's racing responsibilities as well as overseeing all aspects of managing the Godolphin USA horse population. Pride said, “Michael is an integral part of the success of the entire operation here in the US. His knowledge base covers everything from farm infrastructure needs, our stallion program, to planning the matings of such horses as Essential Quality and Maxfield. I know he's excited to assume this new and important responsibility.”

Banahan, who was named Kentucky Farm Manager of the Year in 2019, began his tenure with Darley in 1993. Banahan said, “For 20 years I've had the honor to work alongside Jimmy, and while there's going to be quite a void with his departure, I am very glad for him as he enters a new phase of life. Godolphin USA has a strong team and I'm excited about taking on this new challenge.”

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Jockey Bocachico’s Eight Wins Sets Charles Town Record, Trainer Runco Scores Seven

At Charles Town Races Saturday night, the West Virginia Breeders' Classics card featured nine races for horses bred in the Mountain State, with $1 million in purses on the line. The evening was not only a showcase for state breds, but also for two regulars at the Charles Town, W. Va., track. Jockey Arnaldo Bocachico set a single-card record with eight wins from his nine mounts and the track's leading trainer Jeff Runco scored seven victories from his 16 starters.

Bocachico, a native of Puerto Rico, has called Charles Town his home track since he started riding in 2006. He logged his first career graded stakes win there in 2016, winning the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks on Covey Trace, and scored his 2000^th career victory in March. Saturday, he started the evening with a win in the West Virginia Vincent Moscarelli Memorial Breeders' Classics Stakes on Run to Daylight, the favorite. The streak continued with wins in all but Race 3, where Bocachico finished fourth. Seven of his winners were favorites.

Bocachico's eight victories from nine mounts best the record of seven on a Charles Town card set by jockey Travis Dunkelberger in 2000. In addition to Run to Daylight, Bocachico's winners included The Sky Is Falling (Race 2), Social Chic (Race 4), Door Buster (Race 5), Penguin Power (Race 6), Star of Night (Race 7), Muad'dib (Race 8), and Stowe Angel (Race 9). All but Door Buster were horses trained by Jeff Runco.

Runco, a regular on the West Virginia circuit and currently Charles Town's leading trainer with 101 wins, stands at number 12 on the list of winningest North American trainers, behind such names as Steve Asmussen, Todd Pletcher, Bill Mott, and D. Wayne Lukas. After a short career as a jockey, Runco started training in 1984, and, according to Equibase statistics, has 4,494 wins from 20,992 starters.

Owner David Raim also had five winners from his five starters the West Virginia Breeders' Classics card, all trained by Runco and ridden by Bocachico.

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