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‘Family Comes First’: Fernando De La Cruz Wintering At Tampa To Aide In His Brother’s Recuperation

After winning 67 races last season at Indiana Grand, Fernando De La Cruz had planned to shift his winter base from Oaklawn Park, where he'd competed the last four years, to Fair Grounds.

But when younger brother Walter De La Cruz, also a jockey, suffered a concussion and a neck injury last fall, plans changed. With Walter out of action for an unspecified length of time, Fernando decided to return home to Tampa Bay Downs, where he excelled for seven seasons.

Fernando, 35, invited Walter to live with him and his family – wife Rosa and their children, Brian and Norma – at their Tampa home during his recuperation. Walter, who is single, hopes to return to action soon (“he is about 90-percent recovered,” Fernando said), but in the meantime, the unexpected family reunion is working to everyone's benefit.

“Walter is enjoying time with the kids, taking them to the beach, the movie theater, Busch Gardens,” said Fernando, whose return to Oldsmar has resulted in him winning the Salt Rock Tavern Jockey of the Month award. “I ride horses to make a living, but family comes first, no matter what. He is excited to start riding again, and hopefully he will get a release from the doctor to start soon.”

Trainers, owners and fans have welcomed the return of Fernando, who has climbed to fourth in the Tampa Bay Downs standings with 20 winners, raising his career mark to 2,170. Included in that total are back-to-back victories in the Grade 2 Woodford Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select with Bucchero in 2017 and 2018.

“He fits a lot of my horses, and I'm happy to have him on my team at Tampa,” said trainer Anthony Granitz, who also employs De La Cruz at Indiana Grand.

De La Cruz and Granitz have combined for six victories at the meet, including today's second race with Bellarific, a 5-year-old mare owned by Tri County Stables. “He can get a horse to rate and relax, and he's a strong finisher,” Granitz said. “He rides the turf course well, he's patient and he listens to my instructions. Fernando is a hard worker in the morning. He's willing to get on any horse and work with you, and if he doesn't like a horse he'll tell me, which is important because horses are smart and they can sense that.”

At Indiana Grand, where he worked with agent Mike Moran last season for the first time, De La Cruz's victory haul included four stakes races. On Sept. 8, he won both the $150,000 Indiana Grand Stakes with (then)-3-year-old filly Burning Ambition and the $150,000 Caesars Stakes with 3-year-old colt Royal Prince. Both were trained by Brad Cox, best known as the conditioner of Longines Breeders' Cup Classic winner and presumptive 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go.

De La Cruz also won a pair of stakes with trainer Tim Glyshaw's 3-year-old filly, Pearl Tiara: the $150,000 First Lady Stakes on Aug. 4 and the $100,000 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes on June 23. And the rider also won two stakes for Cox at Prairie Meadows in Iowa.

Moran, who also represents defending Oldsmar jockey champion Samy Camacho, said De La Cruz's versatility is a big reason he is successful everywhere he goes. That trait was on display in his two victories Wednesday, when he won a 7-furlong sprint in gate-to-wire fashion on Himelstein and captured a maiden claiming race on the turf with a come-from-behind rally on Golden Rocket.

De La Cruz has won two meet titles at Indiana Grand and one at Hoosier Park, and is showing signs he could contend in Oldsmar.

“Fernando is always focused on riding and goes out and performs to the best of his ability every day,” Moran said. “He's competitive, he likes to ride every race and he wants to contend for leading rider. He's a hard worker who does whatever you ask him to do, and he's a good family man.

“He's the total package for a jockey.”

When De La Cruz returns to the jockeys' room after a winning effort, he is uplifted by bettors and well-wishers who make him feel as though he never left.

“Thanks to God, they remember me. I'm healthy, I'm winning races and I'm competing against a lot of the same guys, so I can't ask for more,” he said. “Tampa is home, and this is such a nice place to live and to ride horses.”

The post ‘Family Comes First’: Fernando De La Cruz Wintering At Tampa To Aide In His Brother’s Recuperation appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Dubawi ‘Rising Star’ Returns a Winner at Tampa

5th-Tampa Bay Downs, $25,800, Alw, 1-12, (NW1X), 4yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:34.64, fm, 4 1/4 lengths.
IN ITALIAN (GB) (f, 4, Dubawi {Ire}–Florentina {Aus} {GSW-Aus, $250,958}, by Redoute's Choice {Aus}), tabbed as a 'TDN Rising Star' out of a front-running graduation at second asking over the Belmont lawn last out May 8, was heavily supported as the 1-2 favorite to fire fresh off the bench here. Speeding right to the front from her inside draw, she clicked off fractions of :23.68 and :47.57 and was confidently handled approaching the top of the stretch. Samy Camacho hit the gas as they straightened and In Italian responded nicely en route to a good-looking, 4 1/4-length decision over Kitten Tales (Kitten's Joy. In Italian was a 475,000gns Tattersalls October yearling purchase by Mike Ryan on behalf of Peter Brant. A half-sister to Villa Carlotta (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), GSP-Aus; and Fasano (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}), SP-Aus, In Italian was bred by John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds and her dam Florentina was bred back Southern Hemisphere time to Juddmonte stallion Kingman (GB) in September 2018 before returning to Australia. That produce, a colt foaled Aug. 2, 2019, sold to Tom Magnier for A$1.8m at the Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale. Florentina returned to Banstead Manor to visit Kingman in the Northern Hemisphere autumn in 2019 and, returned to Australia, she was subsequently sold for A$650,000 at the 2020 Inglis Chairman's Sale. Her Kingman filly of 2020 is her most recent produce. Sales history: 475,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $69,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Peter M. Brant; B-Fairway Thoroughbreds (GB); T-Chad C. Brown.

The post Dubawi ‘Rising Star’ Returns a Winner at Tampa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Pablo Morales Rides Five Winners For Second Saturday In A Row At Tampa

Don't let his looks deceive you; behind Pablo Morales's youthful appearance lurks a ruthless competitor.

“He looks so nice and polite,” said his agent, Paula Bacon, laughing because those are in fact two traits Morales possesses in abundance. “But he's actually a baby-faced sharpshooter in sheep's clothing.”

Bacon's metaphor hasn't been far off the last two Saturdays at Tampa Bay Downs. After riding five winners on Jan. 1, Morales did it again today, starting 4-for-4 before cooling off to go 5-for-8 with a second.

The performance gives Morales 23 victories at the meet, moving him into a tie for first with Antonio Gallardo. It is the third time Morales has won five races on a Tampa Bay Downs card.

“Unreal. That was awesome, what can I say?” said Morales. “I'm just as happy as I can be. This game is definitely weird, and we just have to stay after it every day. Things like this are what help me keep on going, no matter what.”

Bacon, a former jockey, said all the pieces are coming together for the 33-year-old Lima, Peru product to make a run at his first Tampa Bay Downs meet title. Morales has won seven titles at Presque Isle Downs, where he more than doubled the runner-up with 120 winners last season.

“He's been getting good mounts and he's making them count,” Bacon said. “He's riding incredibly well. He has a lot of natural physical ability, he picks things up right away and he is making smart decisions in his races.”

Bacon, who watched today's card at home, marveled at Morales's winning ride in the fifth race, a maiden claiming event at a mile on the turf for 3-year-old fillies. After keeping his mount, trainer Tim Hamm's gray filly Music Amore, in a stalking position early, Morales spotted an opening on the turn for home and steered Music Amore to the promised land, resulting in a length-and-a-half victory from Sign and Seal.

“He made a last-second decision to cut the corner turning for home, and I thought that was a really smart move,” Bacon said. “When he altered course to go inside, I thought that won the race for him.”

Morales's winning streak was halted in the seventh race on the turf, the Lambholm South Race of the Week, when he finished second aboard Pythoness by a half-length to Bleecker Street, a 4-year-old filly ridden by Hector Rafael Diaz, Jr., and trained by Chad Brown.

“Yeah, it took dang Chad Brown to get him,” Bacon said of the four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer.

Morales's first victory came in the second race on Daily Briefing, a 4-year-old filly owned by Curragh Stables and trained by John P. Terranova, II. She paid $8.40 to win as the second wagering choice. Morales won the third race on Bear Creek, a 5-year-old gelding owned by Mark Hoffman and trained by Dennis Ward. He paid $10.80 to win.

After sitting out the fourth and winning on 2-1 favorite Music Amore, Morales captured the sixth race on 5-2 favorite Curlin's Thrill, a 5-year-old gelding owned by Sabal Racing Stable and Patrick Rhodes and trained by Darien Rodriguez.

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The jockey's fifth victory came in the ninth race, a come-from-behind effort by 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding Cajun Casanova, owned by Monster Racing Stables and trained by Jose H. Delgado. Cajun Casanova paid $5.80 to win as the second betting choice. “That horse just ran huge today,” Morales said. “He has been running against tough horses, but when things go his way he is a monster. He liked to run and he gives it his all.”

Bacon, who has been retired as a jockey since 2002, looks forward to teaming with Morales throughout the season in hopes of challenging for the top spot.

“We still have to work our butts off to get anyplace,” she said. “This is a very deep jockey colony, but I know Pablo is going to keep to the task.”

Morales agrees with Bacon's assessment that he is physically and mentally capable of contending. “I'm in good shape and I'm healthy, and that's the main thing. I'm going to keep on working and wait for the right opportunities, and when I do get them, thank God I'm able to prove myself, because by proving myself to the trainers and owners they'll opt to ride me. Obviously, I can't do anything without their help,” he said.

“I'm extremely thankful to all the connections. I do this for myself, my family and the people who root for me. It can be sort of a roller coaster here, but days like this put me in the fight, and hopefully I'll get in a groove of staying more busy.”

The post Pablo Morales Rides Five Winners For Second Saturday In A Row At Tampa appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘Somebody Who Genuinely Loves What They Do’: Michael Wright Named Tampa’s Trainer Of The Month

Jockey Isabelle C. Wenc was grateful for the opportunity to ride Call Her Joey for trainer Michael Wright in a one-mile turf claiming race on Dec. 31 at Tampa Bay Downs. The (then)-5-year-old mare won, giving Wright his fourth consecutive victory of the meet and providing Wenc with a memorable Oldsmar oval debut.

Strange as it sounds, though, a trip to the winner's circle takes a backseat to the continuing education Wenc receives around Wright's barn, where the conditioner inspires employees through his devotion to the horses – and his insistence that everyone, including himself, be able to take a joke.

“It's fun coming to work. He loves the sport, and he has a good sense of humor,” said trainer Mike Dunslow, who works for Wright as an assistant at Tampa.

“If I were to have any kind of question, he is somebody I can go to and ask, and he doesn't even make you feel silly,” said Wenc, a 27-year-old Saskatchewan product who is working for Wright this season as an exercise rider. “It's fun coming to work because he trusts your opinion. We all butt heads occasionally, but we get along pretty well and have a main goal in mind.”

Four consecutive victories is a rarity for any trainer or jockey, but Wright seemed to take it in stride.

“When you come with the right horses, it's not difficult, I guess,” he said.

The streak started on Dec. 17 with a pair of victories, one by (then)-3-year-old gelding Decimator, owned by Colebrook Farms, in a claiming sprint and the next by 6-year-old mare Nantucket Red, also owned by Colebrook, in a one-mile allowance/optional claiming race on the turf. On Dec. 29, Wright won a claiming sprint with 5-year-old mare Distinctly Blue, who was claimed from the race.

Call Her Joey, claimed by Wright from her previous start on Nov. 5 at Woodbine, is owned by Wright's wife, Gina Wright.

A clear-cut choice as the Salt Rock Tavern Trainer of the Month for his 4-for-4 start, Wright is in the latter stages of a career that has seen him scale some peaks. In the 1990s, he trained for leading Canadian owner Bruno Schickedanz, with Wright averaging 66 winners a year from 1991-1995, primarily at Woodbine in Toronto.

Their top horse together was the Ontario-bred Scotzanna, who won a pair of Sovereign Awards in 1995 as Canada's Champion Sprinter and Champion 3-Year-Old Filly. Her major victories that year included the Grade 2 Prioress Stakes at Belmont Park under jockey Robin Platts.

“She was a good horse right from the start,” Wright said of the $10,000 yearling auction purchase. “She's the best horse I've ever had.”

Wright, a Manchester, England product, moved with his family to Toronto when he was 14. He sent out his first starter in 1967 or 1968 at Woodbine and has compiled 795 victories. He began competing at Tampa Bay Downs during the 2013-2014 season. It marked a pleasant change from cold winters spent at Woodbine and Laurel in years past.

“We went on a cruise to Mexico, and when we got back I said, 'Let's stay here (Florida) for a while.' We bought a house and now my wife lives here year-round while I go back to Woodbine in the summer.”

Wright's son, Michael Wright, Jr., won a Sovereign Award in 1998 as Canada's Outstanding Trainer. Younger son Andrew helps his father throughout the summer at Woodbine, while a daughter, Natalie, works at a golf course in Maryland.

Wife Gina's brothers, Dale and Gary Capuano, are trainers, with Gary having trained 1997 Kentucky Derby runner-up Captain Bodgit.

Wright's reputation for patience results in usually getting the best efforts from his horses.

“He understands them. He takes good care of them and spots them well,” said Dunslow.

Wright also understands people. A groom, Michael Whitelaw, who has been with him for decades, says “he treats me like his son.”

Although his pace has slowed, Wright is having too much fun to contemplate retirement.

“You have to keep going, because if you stop, all of a sudden it's over,” Wright said. “I've been fortunate. I've always liked the game, and I like to be here in the mornings.”

His ongoing presence is mighty reassuring.

“It's nice to work for somebody who genuinely loves what they do,” Wenc said. “It's a fun environment to be part of.”

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