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Veteran, Trainer Jeff Hiles Seeks First Stakes Win With Shesa Mystery In Dogwood

Jeff Hiles launched his training career just four years ago but the 41-year-old United States Marine Corp. veteran is poised to record his first stakes victory with 3-year-old filly Shesa Mystery in Saturday's $275,000 Dogwood (Grade 3) at Churchill Downs.

Owned by John Gaynor's Let It Ride Stables, Shesa Mystery enters Saturday's seven-furlong Dogwood with a lifetime record of 5-2-1-0 with $84,332 in purse earnings. The chestnut filly by Verrazano broke her maiden four starts ago at Indiana Grand by 4 ¾ lengths and returned three weeks later to score a 2 ¾-length first-level allowance victory.

“We're really excited about her in this spot,” Hiles said. “She's coming into this race in great shape. (Carribean Caper) is a really nice filly for (trainer) Al (Stall Jr.) but if she can handle the shortened distance I think she'll run a big effort.”

Shesa Mystery finished second two starts ago in the $225,000 Iowa Oaks (GIII) and enters Saturday's affair with an enigmatic seventh-place finish in the $100,000 Pucker Up (G3) over the turf.

Hiles is quietly having a solid year hitting at a 25 percent win-clip with 13 wins from 53 starters. His purse earnings of $313,761 are higher than his first three years of his training career combined.

Fans may recognize Hiles as the son of veteran Kentucky-based conditioner Rick Hiles. Prior to starting his career in 2018, Hiles served as the Churchill Downs-based assistant to Kenny McPeek.

Shesa Mystery is based at Highpointe Farm and Training Center which is located in La Grange, Ky., about 45 minutes northeast of Churchill Downs.

The Dogwood drew a compact field of seven 3-year-old fillies and was carded as Race 8 with a post time of 4:22 p.m. (all times Eastern). Saturday's 11-race card features a stakes trio including the inaugural runnings of the $275,000 Bourbon Trail® and $275,000 Harrods Creek, both for 3-year-olds. First post is 12:45 p.m.

The complete Dogwood field from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

Coppelia (Martin Garcia, Phil Bauer, 15-1)
Carribean Caper (Colby Hernandez, Stall, even-money)
Li'l Tootsie (James Graham, Tom Amoss, 3-1)
Malloy (Joe Talamo, Wayne Catalano, 10-1)
Shesa Mystery (Miguel Mena, Hiles, 10-1)
Patty H (Julien Leparoux, Mike Miceli, 7-2)
Someone Said So (Adam Beschizza, Coty Rosin, 15-1)

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Flavien Prat Heads Jockey Colony For Santa Anita’s Autumn Meet

With Southern California kingpin Flavien Prat heading the charge, a full complement of world class jockeys is set to compete throughout the course of Santa Anita's upcoming 16-day Autumn Meet, which is set to open on Friday, Oct. 1. A total of four stakes, three of them Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifiers, will headline a nine-race program, with first post time at 1 p.m.

Prat, a 29-year-old native of Malun, France, is enjoying yet another tremendous year, having just won the riding title at the recently concluded Del Mar Summer Race Meet. Although based in Southern California, Prat has ridden in major stakes throughout the country in 2021 and he currently ranks fourth among North American jockeys with earnings of more than $16.8 million.

A triumvirate of talented riders, Juan Hernandez, Abel Cedillo and Umberto Rispoli, should again figure prominently in the Autumn Meet standings. Hernandez and Cedillo, former leading riders at Golden Gate Fields, finished two-three at Del Mar, while Italian native Rispoli, regarded as one of the circuit's top turf riders, checked in fourth. (Hernandez and Rispoli rank 12th and 14th nationally, with respective earnings of $7.8 million and $7.5 million).

Legendary Hall of Fame jockeys Mike Smith, Victor Espinoza and Kent Desormeaux are again set to call Santa Anita home beginning next Friday and they'll all be aboard Breeders' Cup hopefuls throughout opening weekend.

“Jersey Joe” Bravo, who relocated to Southern California this past summer, enjoyed a solid summer at Del Mar, finishing fifth in the standings, and he adds considerable depth to a strong jockey colony. Regarded as California's best “gate rider,” Edwin Maldonado is enjoying perhaps the best year of his career and he figures to have plenty of live mounts throughout the 16-day stand.

Brazilian-born Tiago Pereira, who notched his biggest North American win aboard Tripoli in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Aug. 21, along with Mario Gutierrez, Geovanni Franco, Kyle Frey, Tyler Baze, Ricky Gonzalez, Drayden Van Dyke and Jose Valdivia, Jr., all comprise a deep pool of journeyman talent that fans and horsemen can readily embrace.

Jessica Pyfer, a recent graduate of Azusa Pacific University, continues in her quest to be named America's Eclipse Champion Apprentice Jockey for 2021, while fellow “bug” riders Diego Herrera, Emily Ellingwood and Alexis Centeno all form a solid group of apprentice talent.

A great deal of anticipation surrounds next Friday's Grade 2, $200,000 Eddie D Stakes, named in honor of retired Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye, as it marks a return to Santa Anita's Camino Real Hillside Turf Course. For 3-year-olds and up, the Eddie D will be contested at about 6 ½ furlongs and will likely attract a full field of 10 or 12 runners.

Three Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” stakes, the Grade 1, $300,000 American Pharoah, the Grade 2, $200,000 Chandelier and the $100,000 Speakeasy will provide their respective winners with fees-paid berths in corresponding stakes over the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar Nov. 5 & 6.

For additional information on Santa Anita's upcoming Autumn Meet, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Lost And Found Presented By LuibriSYN HA: Former Free House Trainer Content To Watch As A Fan

Nearly a decade after saddling his final starter, Juan “Paco” Gonzalez still goes to Santa Anita most mornings but now the activity is strictly a hobby.

“I love watching the horses train,” he said. “I still have some friends at the track, so we walk the length of the grandstand back and forth to keep fit.”

Most of Gonzalez's success was condensed in the span from 1992 to 2002 when the barn raked in at least $1 million each year. One of his most popular runners was the blaze-faced gray Free House who finished third in all three Triple Crown races in 1997. Gonzalez accomplished the same feat with Mane Minister six years earlier. Both raced for John Toffan and Trudy McCaffery, Gonzalez's only clients throughout his career. Another headliner was Grade 1 winner Came Home for the partnership that flourished with primarily homebreds led by Free House who banked more than $3-million.

“We started with the original six and in 10 years, the owners had 120 horses,” Gonzalez said.

McCaffery died in 2007 and Toffan began downsizing the stable prior to his passing in 2019. Gonzalez offered to retire in 2012 so that the remaining five racers could seamlessly transfer to other conditioners. The transition left a legacy that began by happenstance and closed as one of racing's most successful stables.

Gonzalez became acquainted with Toffan and McCaffery when he was an exercise rider for their trainer Joe Manzi. When Manzi passed away unexpectedly in 1989, they asked him to be their private trainer.

Came Home in the 2002 Pacific Classic

“I really didn't want to do it; too chicken,” he said. “My brother Sal talked me into it and said he would work for me, so I took a chance.”

In addition to the aforementioned Free House, Mane Minister and Came Home, the team churned out a steady stream of high-level performers such as graded stakes winners Bien Bien, his son Bienamodo, Del Mar Dennis and Nice Assay (dam of Came Home).

Gonzalez relished those glory days but his true passion was his time at the barn.

“I miss interacting with the horses,” he said. “Seeing what will help them train better, eat better and anything else we can do to improve their performance. Very smart animals. They can't talk with a voice, but there are many ways to listen to them.”

The opinionated Came Home presented the Gonzalez crew with many challenges including the simple process of getting shod. The colt had little patience for the procedure so a compromise was reached—two new shoes one day, two more the next.

Gonzalez now is satisfied to watch others' racehorses and enjoys his more leisure after his morning track time.

“I come home, eat some lunch, turn on TVG and watch races,” he said. “I still take a little siesta for about 30 minutes. In the early evening, I take another walk around the block. I sometimes go to the park when there is a tai chi class and join in. And I visit the doctors for check-ups.”

His free time includes extended visits to Mexico to his see his sisters and their families.

“I'm happy I retired when I did,” he said. “I never liked to talk on the phone too much. I see trainers today that have to be on the phone all the time with owners and agents and studying the condition books for five different tracks. It is different and a lot of work. I'm ok with retirement.”

Liane Crossley is a Lexington-based freelance writer who has spent her entire career in Thoroughbred racing-related jobs in barns, press boxes and offices. She has worked for stables from Saratoga to Ak-Sar-Ben and from Canterbury Park to Oaklawn Park and about another dozen tracks in the eastern two thirds of America. A longtime contributor to Thoroughbred Times, her articles have appeared in Keeneland Magazine, Blood-Horse, Daily Racing Form, Thoroughbred Daily News, Breeders' Cup website, Horse Illustrated, European Bloodstock News, KyForward, Horse Illustrated, Young Rider and other publications. She is a seasonal member of Keeneland's media department.

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Tawana Bain, Anita Ebert Join Board Of Kentucky Derby Museum

Kentucky Derby Museum welcomes two new members to its Board of Directors with the addition of entrepreneur, Tawana Bain, and horse racing businesswoman, Anita Ebert.

Additionally, several current Board Members are taking on new roles. Glenn Haygood, President & General Manager at WLKY-TV will serve as chair, David Nett, retired Customer Communications Manager at Kroger as vice chair, Todd Spencer, Executive Chairman, President & CEO of Doe-Anderson as Treasurer, and Briana Lathon, Senior Compliance Officer, Group & Military at Humana, as secretary. Board Member Lee Thomas is departing after serving six years.

“The Kentucky Derby Museum is fortunate to gain two more sharp businesswomen on its Board of Directors,” said incoming chair, Glenn Haygood. “Between the two of them, there is a lot of business wisdom, philanthropic work and passion for horse racing, which are huge assets to a Board that centers around that. I'm pleased to be taking the reigns as chairman of the Board with a strong team of leading minds in our community.”

Kentucky Derby Museum, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is governed by its Board of Directors, committed to the highest standard of business ethics. The Museum Board monitors Museum operations, provides financial oversight, and helps guide the growth of the Museum. The new Board members will serve a three year term, starting in December, bringing the Board to 22 total members.

About the new Board Members:

Tawana Bain

As CEO at TBAIN & Co, Tawana manages business development, market research initiatives, and strategic direction of the firm. In addition, Bain is the Founder of the Global Economic Diversity Development Initiative, (GED Black founded and predominantly Black-led, a non-profit foundation focused on building economic wealth for the Black community in the following areas – workforce opportunities, economic empowerment, supply chain opportunities, leadership and development, and business acceleration. One of GEDDI's most notable programs is the Derby Diversity & Business Summit (DDBS) program that launched in 2017 and is designed to drive innovative strategies to attract diverse consumers while promoting the intersection of best in class diverse business leaders within the Executive Workforce and Global Supply Chain.

Aside from Bain's philanthropic and social justice work, she is also the proud owner of Today's Woman – a regional magazine focused on driving authentic sisterhood and empowering women across this region. She also owns the Black Jockeys Lounge, a fine dining restaurant with Live Music, situated in the heart of downtown Louisville, known for serving as an intersection for various cultures to network, enjoy good food and enjoy art and Black Jockey Contributions to the Kentucky Derby. She is also the founder of one of Louisville's hottest curated boutiques – AFM Threads, located in Oxmoor Mall.

Tawana has 20+ years of experience in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), marketing strategy and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). She is a graduate of Brockport University and holds a BA degree in French Communications with a minor concentration in Computer Science. She attended L 'institute De Touraine in Tours, France, and accomplished proficiency in oral and written French Communications. She is the proud mother of two sons, Tyshawn and Jeff.

Anita Ebert

Anita Ebert, an Indianapolis native, has resided in Louisville, KY since late 2007 where she operates both her Thoroughbred racing and breeding programs. Since her move to Kentucky, she has had two exciting opportunities to race in the Kentucky Oaks. In 2007, High Heels finished third and five years later in 2012, On Fire Baby finished fifth. Anita continued to race On Fire Baby to achieve over a million dollars in earnings and was able to attain multiple Grade 1 wins in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park in 2013 and the 2014 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Anita originally entered the Thoroughbred business in 1985 with her late husband Barry Ebert, while also working as a stock trader with Heartland Capital Management in Indianapolis. The initial business plan was to purchase yearling fillies with the hope of creating young broodmares to sell at auction. Shortly after the death of Barry in 2003, Anita entered their best racehorse at that point, Ornate, a listed stakes winner, in a sale. The horse did not meet its' reserve and thus fortuitously started the breeding operation.

In addition to her racing operations, she is an inaugural board member of Horses and Hope, a breast cancer awareness initiative sponsored by Kentucky First Lady, Jane Beshear. Anita also fulfilled two+ terms on the board of the Backside Learning Center, the last term as Vice-President, located at Churchill Downs, which seeks to improve the lives of backside workers and their families. In the fall of 2015 Anita was elected to the Board of Directors for the KTA/KTOB, and served until summer 2018.

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