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Tony Calo Named New Track Announcer at Ellis

Tony Calo has been named the new track announcer at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced Monday. The North California native, who replaces the departing Scott Shapiro, will continue to serve as the announcer at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming in addition to a handicapping analyst at Churchill Downs. Aside from his duties as an announcer, Calo will join Joe Kristufek, Kaitlin Free and, newly-promoted handicapping analyst, Kevin Kilroy on the Churchill Downs simulcast feed for the Spring, September and Fall Meets.

“I'm honored to become the new announcer at Ellis Park,” Calo said. “Thank you to everyone at Churchill Downs Incorporated for this opportunity. Kentucky has become one of the strongest year-round circuits in North America and I'm thrilled to be a part of the great teams at Churchill Downs, Ellis Park and Turfway Park.”

Calo previously served as the announcer at Bay Meadows, Golden Gate Fields and, most recently, Finger Lakes.

Kilroy, who served as a member of the media relations department for the past two seasons at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, joins the handicapping team at Churchill Downs where he will be an analyst covering the racing at Churchill Downs, Colonial Downs, Ellis Park, Fair Grounds and Turfway Park.

Calo and Kilroy will begin their new roles at the start of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet Apr. 27.

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Jamie Rodriguez Notches Four-Win Sunday, Clinches Meet Title

As the Heritage winter meet winds down with two racing days left on the calendar, Jamie Rodriguez enjoyed a four-win afternoon Sunday at Laurel Park and cemented his claim to the leading rider title.

In addition to his four wins on the day, Rodriguez claims 46 through the meet, 18 more than runner-up Jeiron Barbosa, and helped conditioner Jamie Ness move ahead of Brittany Russell in the race for leading trainer. All four of Sunday's wins were on Ness runners and the combo hit at a lofty 29 per cent for the meeting. Rodriguez also leads in purse earnings at more than $1.6-million.

Since starting his 2024 season, he's recorded 12 multi-win days, six of which he visited the winner's enclosure on three or more occasions. Rodriguez is the three-time defending champion at Delaware Park as well.

“I have to thank all the owners and trainers that help me,” Rodriguez said. “All the hard rides I give to Jamie Ness I'm going to give all my horses, whoever puts me on. We're going to keep working.”

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‘Rising Stars’ Muth, Timberlake Lead Arkansas Derby Field

In a field of 10, 'TDN Rising Stars' GISW Muth (Good Magic) and GISW Timberlake (Into Mischief) have drawn the seven and two gate spots, respectively, and lead the charge in Oaklawn's feature GI Kentucky Derby prep race, the GI Arkansas Derby.

Muth, 8-5 on the morning line, will attempt to give Bob Baffert his fifth win in the contest, but hasn't started since finding the winner's enclosure in the GII San Vicente S. Jan. 6 at Santa Anita. The colt is ineligible for the Derby points and to run in the GI Kentucky Derby owing to Baffert's much talked-about suspension by Churchill Downs.

Brad Cox, trainer of Timberlake (9-5 on the morning line), seeks his third consecutive victory in Oaklawn's fourth and final Kentucky Derby points race. Having already claimed the GII Rebel S. at this venue in February, the third offered qualifying race, the son of Into Mischief looks to pad an already sizeable tally here.

Also drawn was the field for the GII Fantasy S., a 200-point race for the GI Kentucky Oaks, and Mike Maker's MSW My Mane Squeeze (Audible) has been tapped as the 3-1 program favorite. The New York-bred leads a field which includes the top three finishers of the GIII Honeybee S. in GSW Lemon Muffin (Collected), SW & GSP Tapit Jenallie (Tapit), and SW & GSP West Omaha (West Coast).

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Gun Runner’s Cartucho Graduates In Impressive ‘Rising Star’ Debut At Tampa

The partnership of Three Chimneys Farm, William Lawrence and Walmac Farm went to $1,200,000 to secure Cartucho (Gun Runner) as a yearling at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale and were quickly rewarded when their buy graduated on debut in 'TDN Rising Star'-style at Tampa Sunday. Favored at 6-5 as one of only three first-time starters in the field, Cartucho was slow from the gate and got squeezed back from the early frontrunners to be last in the opening jumps. Quickly into stride, Javier Castellano stayed along the rail inside of Faith's Spirit (Violence) as that pair began to gradually reel in the trio of leaders who were content to race three abreast through an opening quarter in :22.69. Tipped outside of Faith's Spirit heading into the far turn, Cartucho stayed covered up behind the widest of the three leaders but had a head of steam passing the quarter pole and was let loose by Castellano with a furlong to run. Up to take command with a sixteenth to run, the favorite ran up the score to win ridden out by 6 1/4 lengths.

The 11th 'TDN Rising Star' for Gun Runner, Cartucho is out of GI Ruffian Invitational H. winner Malibu Prayer who sold to Besilu Stables for $2,000,000 at KEENOV in 2011. The second winner from his dam in as many to race, he is also a half to the dams of Japanese stakes winner Cros Parantoux (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) and stakes placed Awesome Ruta (Mendelssohn). Malibu Prayer is herself a half to MGSW/GISP Valid (Medaglia d'Oro), MGSP Grand Love (Gun Runner) and to the dam of Saturday's Tom Benson Memorial S. winner Delahaye (Medaglia d'Oro). Malibu Prayer has produced back to back colts by Volatile in 2022 and 2023 and is due to GI Preakness S. winner Early Voting this year.

3rd-Tampa Bay Downs, $36,200, Msw, 3-24, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.95, ft, 6 1/4 lengths.
CARTUCHO, c, 3, Gun Runner
1st Dam: Malibu Prayer {GISW, $618,026},
                                by Malibu Moon
                2nd Dam: Grand Prayer, by Grand Slam
                3rd Dam: Lyrical Prayer, by The Minstrel
Sales History: $1,200,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $19,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV and for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Three Chimneys Farm, William H. Lawrence and Walmac Farm; B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown.

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