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O’Brien Apologizes, BHA To Investigate Equine Mix-Up In Friday’s Fillies’ Mile

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has issued a public apology after a mix-up occurred in Friday's Fillies' Mile at Newmarket, reports the Racing Post. The Ballydoyle master's two entrants, Snowfall and Mother Earth, carried each other's numbers and intended jockeys.

Snowfall, reported to have finished third under James Doyle, actually finished eighth under William Buick.

“I contacted the BHA straight away and let them know what is after happening,” O'Brien told racingpost.com, adding that he made the call after watching the race on delay. “We have a team based in England these days because of the coronavirus restrictions, so the problem is the lads that are with the horses at home can't always go racing with them.”

“The BHA stewards have been made aware of a potential issue regarding the Group 1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket today which may have resulted in the incorrect rider and number cloths being carried by the two horses trained by Aidan O'Brien,” reads a statement from the British Horseracing Authority. “A stewards' inquiry will be held on the racecourse tomorrow to consider all of the relevant evidence and determine the course of events and what action needs to be taken.”

Saffie Joseph Seeking Training Title Three-Peat At Gulfstream Park West

Before he saddles Haskell (G1) runner-up Ny Traffic in the 145^th Preakness (G1) Saturday afternoon at Pimlico Race Course, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. will begin his attempt at a third consecutive training title at Gulfstream Park West.

Joseph, who last week earned the training title at Gulfstream Park's summer meet, will begin the Gulfstream West season with three starters on Opening Day, including Daddy's Joy in the featured ninth race.

Gulfstream West begins its 40-day meet Saturday with a 10-race program. First race post is noon. Due to safety and health protocols, the Gulfstream West meet will be held without spectators. Fans can watch and wager on the races at https://1st.com/bet/ and https://xpressbet.com

Joseph, a third-generation horsemen who came to the U.S. from Barbados in 2011, has built a major stable the past several years after starting with just two horses when he arrived. His accomplishments include victories in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) with Math Wizard, Davona Dale (G2) and Forward Gal (G3) with Tonalist's Shape, the Royal Delta (G3) with Cookie Dough, and the Kitten's Joy (G3) with Island Commish.

On Saturday at Gulfstream West Joseph will have horses in the fifth (Keep Quiet), the ninth (Daddy's Joy) and 10^th (Tony Small).

“We won the last two meets and we hope that we can win this meet again,” Joseph said. “It's not going to be easy obviously, because everyone has the same expectations. But we think we have enough horses and good owners behind us that it's a realistic goal to get it done. It's going to be the last Gulfstream Park West meet so it would be nice to go out three times a winner.”

Daddy's Joy, a 3-year-old filly by Daddy Long Legs, will be one of the favorites in the featured ninth race, an allowance optional claiming event at five furlongs on the turf. After finishing sixth in her debut last December at the Fair Grounds, Daddy's Joy returned from a nine-month layoff to win Gulfstream on the turf Sept. 3 in her first start under Joseph's shedrow.

The filly is owned by Slam Dunk Racing and MyRacehorse.com, which sells micro -shares in its horses. Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Authentic is co-owned by MyRacehorse.com, which sold more than 4,000 micro-shares in the Preakness favorite.

“I got hooked up with them through Slam Dunk Racing,” Joseph said. “They own horses together and that's how it came about. I mainly deal with Slam Dunk and I think Nick Hines has something to do with it. I don't know if he manages MyRaceHorse but he will call me occasionally for them. It's nice. Obviously they own Authentic, and it's good to train for those kinds of people. Owners are what make you, and we're blessed to have really good owners.”

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Trainer Angel Montano Dies In Louisville Hospital At Age 80

Longtime Kentucky-based trainer Angel Montano passed away in a hospital in Louisville on Thursday, according to the Daily Racing Form. He was 80 years old, and had been hospitalized for much of the past six months. Montano died of multiple health complications including COVID-19.

Initially an apprentice jockey when he came to the U.S. from Mexico in 1956, Montano was injured and took out his training license in 1961. Montano trained 1,390 winners over his career, and was the leading trainer at Churchill Downs' spring meet for three straight years, 1976-1978.

“He lived a great life,” one of his seven children, Joey Montano, told drf.com. “Such a character. He loved telling jokes but wasn't very good at it, and that was funny in itself. He loved the horses and all the people at the track and was incredibly loyal to his employees. Think about it – more than 60 years on the track.”

Brad Cox To Watch Pimlico Action From Keeneland, With Runners In Four Grade 1 Races

Brad Cox is loaded for bear this weekend at Pimlico with runners in eight stakes, but he will be watching the action from Keeneland.

“There are four Grade 1s here (in which we are entered), so I figured I'd better stay here,” said Cox, whose Grade 1 activity at Keeneland begins with Travel Column in Friday's Darley Alcibiades and concludes Sunday with Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Shedaresthedevil going in the Juddmonte Spinster. “I sent my son Blake and my assistant from Indiana Grand (Ricky Giannini) to Pimlico.”

Travel Column, owned by OXO Equine, will be trying to give Cox a second consecutive Darley Alcibiades victory following the 2019 triumph by Eclipse Award winner British Idiom.

“She worked with (Claiborne Breeders' Futurity-G1 entrant) Essential Quality last Saturday (at Churchill Downs) and it was the first time I had worked them together,” Cox said about Travel Column. “They went five-eighths in :59 and 4 and galloped out three-quarters in 1:12 and 2. I have done as much as I can with them in the morning.

“Now they have to get good trips. There are solid horses in both races.”

Godolphin, which won the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity with Maxfield last year, owns Essential Quality.

In Saturday's First Lady (G1) Presented by UK HealthCare, Cox sends out Beau Recall (IRE) for Slam Dunk Racing and Medallion Racing. Beau Recall is coming off a repeat victory in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) last month in which she ran down First Lady rival Newspaperofrecord (IRE).

“She has had two maintenance works since and is doing well,” Cox said. “I hope she gets the same setup that she had the last time.”

Cox has a 24 percent win rate in 2020 and ranks second among North American trainers with $11,945,923 in earnings. On Saturday, in addition to Keeneland and Pimlico, Cox will have runners at Belmont and Hawthorne.

His Pimlico invasion begins Friday afternoon with Owendale, the 2019 Stonestreet Lexington (G3) winner, in the Pimlico Special (G3). His biggest guns Saturday are Bonny South in the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan (G2) and Factor This in the Dinner Party (G2).

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