Emigh set to return next year HOT SPRINGS — Jockey Chris Emigh, who has made a major splash in his first full season at Oaklawn Park, will return for the 2009 meeting, according to his longtime agent, Jay Fedor.
Emigh is Oaklawn’s sixthleading rider with 24 victories from 156 mounts.
Boosted by Sierra Sunset’s victory in last Saturday’s $ 300, 000 Grade II Rebel Stakes, Emigh’s $ 722, 660 in purse earnings is just behind leading rider Eddie Razo’s $ 809, 276.
“We really like it here,” Fedor said. “I think we’ll do better next year, I hope.” Emigh, 37, is a fixture on the Chicago circuit with a record-tying seven riding titles at Hawthorne and a 2006 championship at Arlington Park.
Last fall, Fedor said he and Emigh seriously began discussing shifting their winter base to Oaklawn, a move the agent added was precipitated by Hawthorne’s slumping winter / spring meeting.
“I told him we had to find something else,” Fedor said. “We can’t go back.” So Emigh landed at Oaklawn, where he rode during the early part of the 2002 meeting (winning six races ) before returning to Hawthorne.
Fedor said he believed Emigh would fare better in his second stint in Hot Springs because he committed to ride the entire meeting and was armed with a much stronger resume after ranking 27 th in victories (210 ) and 46 th in purse earnings ($ 5. 2 million ) nationally last year.
“Things have gone great here,” Fedor said.
Emigh registered his first Oaklawn stakes victory — equaling the biggest of his 19-year career — in last Saturday’s $ 300, 000 Grade II Rebel aboard Sierra Sunset.
Emigh, who has been riding regularly for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, also rode two of most eye-catching winners of the meet.
Esperamos earned one of the highest Beyer speed figures in the country (108 ) with a 9-length allowance victory Feb. 8.
Palanka City was an effortless 3-length allowance winner March 2.
Emigh isn’t riding this week because he’s in Mexico on a previously scheduled family vacation, Fedor said.
Fedor said the trip was planned almost two months ago to coincide with the jockey’s children being out of school on spring break.
Emigh, who lives in Chicago, is scheduled to resume riding Wednesday, Fedor said.
“The plan from the get-go was to stay the entire meeting,” Fedor said. “He asked me what I thought about it [the trip ]. Obviously, I had no idea at the time that we would be doing this well.” Fedor said Emigh left Hot Springs shortly after the Rebel and still wasn’t aware Friday morning that Sierra Sunset came out of the race with a hairline fracture in his left front ankle.
The injury will force the colt to miss the $ 1 million Grade II Arkansas Derby on April 12 — and the Kentucky Derby on May 3.
“It’s definitely a devastating blow,” Fedor said.
Still, Fedor said Sierra Sunset’s injury won’t diminish what Emigh has accomplished in his first full year at Oaklawn.
Fedor, in fact, has fallen so hard for Oaklawn that he said he would sell his Chicago home and move to Hot Springs — if Oaklawn ran a fall meeting.
“I’d be an Arkansas guy,” said Fedor, an avid outdoorsman. “I love this place.” Before the Rebel, Emigh’s biggest career victory was aboard Come On Flip in the $ 300, 000 Grade II Hawthorne Gold Cup in 1996. Junior College grad For a $ 50, 000 race, today’s Hot Springs Stakes for older sprinters at three-quarters of a mile came up tough.
The five-horse field features defending champion Junior College, stakes winners Lovango, Natural Speed and Indian Chant and Mr. Nightlinger, third in a Grade III stakes race last year.
“A short, but quality field,” said Tony Reinstedler, who trains Junior College. “There’s a lot of speedy characters. It looks like a rider’s race. Anyone can win the damn thing.” In his only start this year, Junior College finished second to Semaphore Man in the $ 50, 000 King Cotton Stakes on Feb. 2.
Throughout his 22-race career, Junior College has won his races on or near the lead, and Reinstedler said he’ll leave today’s strategy in the hands of leading rider Eddie Razo.
“I’ve said this about Junior before,” Reinstedler said. “Junior does whatever Junior feels like doing. I don’t ask too many questions about him anymore because every time I hang the bridle on him he gives me 110 percent.” The Hot Springs is the final major local prep for the $ 150, 000 Grade III Count Fleet Sprint Handicap on April 10.
Junior College finished fourth in last year’s Count Fleet. Blackberry’s road ?
Unbeaten Denis of Cork won’t run in the $ 1 million Grade II Arkansas Derby on April 12, but trainer David Carroll remains in the equation.
Carroll said it’s “50-50” that Denis of Cork’s stablemate, Blackberry Road, will make his next start in the Arkansas Derby.
The $ 500, 000 Grade II Illinois Derby on April 5 at Hawthorne also is under consideration, Carroll said.
In his last start, Blackberry Road finished fourth, beaten 4 1 / 2 lengths by Pyro, in the $ 600, 000 Grade II Louisiana Derby on March 8 at Fair Grounds.
Carroll said several factors make the Arkansas Derby an attractive option.
“The timing would be very good, No. 1,” Carroll said. “The track, I think, could be great, distance of the race, the purse, pace scenario. There’s a lot of good things. I like Oaklawn. Lot of positives there, you know.” Carroll said Blackberry Road is scheduled to have his first work since the Louisiana Derby today at Fair Grounds. A half brother to champion Vindication, Blackberry Road is owned by Dogwood Stable, which has another Kentucky Derby candidate in Atoned. “They’re trying to do what’s best for both horses,” Carroll said of Dogwood. In his last start, Carroll saddled Denis of Cork to win the $ 250, 000 Grade III Southwest Stakes on Feb. 18 at Oaklawn. The Harlan’s Holiday colt likely will make his next start in the $ 750, 000 Grade I Wood Memorial on April 5 at Aqueduct.
Final furlong Because of weather problems in Chicago, today’s edition of Daily Racing Form wasn’t scheduled to arrive in Hot Springs until approximately midnight Friday. … Eight Belles was nominated Friday to the $ 1 million Grade II Arkansas Derby on April 12, owner Rick Porter said. Unbeaten in three starts this year, Eight Belles is scheduled to make her next start in the $ 250, 000 Grade II Fantasy Stakes on April 6. “Unless something unforeseen happens,” Porter said he still plans to make Eight Belles a late Triple Crown nominee. … Highpercentage trainer Paula Bacon struck for the second consecutive day, this time with Star of Idabel ($ 7. 40 ), claimed out of her last start for $ 40, 000. Bacon, wintering at Oaklawn for the first time, is 3 for 10 at the meeting. … Trainer Tony Reinstedler said the promising Sweet Reedemer, an impressive entry-level allowance winner Thursday, likely will make her next start in the $ 75, 000 Instant Racing Stakes on April 12. … Prepping for the Instant Racing, Minewander was a 1 3 / 4-length winner of her 3-year-old debut Friday for trainer David Vance. … Reinstedler said the fickle U D Ghetto, a Grade III winner who made his 3-year-old debut against Curlin in last year’s Rebel Stakes, is on a “mental break” after suffering his 10 th consecutive loss in a Feb. 29 allowance race. “I don’t know what his job is going to be,” Reinstedler said. “I’m sure we’ll try it [racing ] once again, but there’s got to be something out there he can do.” … In his first start of the meeting, Dwight Viator, trainer of 1981 Arkansas Derby runner-up Top Avenger, won Friday’s fifth race with Hamel the Camel. Top Avenger later finished 19 th in the Kentucky Derby after running the fastest opening quarter in race history (: 21. 80 ). … Trainer Larry Jones is the special guest on today’s Oaklawn Handicappers Hour. The show airs each Saturday from 9: 05 a. m.-10 a.m. on KVRE-FM, 92. 9, in Hot Springs Village and www. oaklawn. com. … Oaklawn will be closed Sunday in observance of Easter. Oaklawn at a glance DAY 38 ATTENDANCE (9, 454 ); ON-TRACK HANDLE ($ 825, 181. 80 ); OFF-TRACK HANDLE ($ 2, 018, 092. 04 ); TOTAL HANDLE ($ 2, 843, 273. 84 ); INSTANT RACING HANDLE (N / A ) SIMULCASTING BETTING BREAKDOWN Tampa Bay Downs ($ 22, 374 ); Aqueduct ($ 38, 168 ); Gulfstream Park ($ 35, 746 ); Fair Grounds ($ 65, 639 ); Hawthorne ($ 2, 274 ); Bay Meadows (N / A ); Santa Anita (N / A ); Turfway Park (N / A ); Penn National (N / A ); Mountaineer (N / A ); Charles Town (N / A ); Delta Downs (N / A ); Sam Houston Race Park (N / A ); Southland Park Gaming & Racing (N / A ); Australia (N / A ) THURSDAY’S LATE SIMULCASTING BETTING BREAKDOWN Bay Meadows ($ 4, 065 ); Santa Anita ($ 30, 084 ); Penn National ($ 5, 083 ); Charles Town ($ 6, 036 ); Remington Park ($ 6, 425 ); Delta Downs ($ 12, 316 ); Sam Houston Race Park ($ 6, 039 ); Southland Park Gaming & Racing ($ 9, 631 ); Australia (canceled ) THURSDAY’S INSTANT RACING HANDLE $ 568, 537 CLASSIX CARRYOVER $ 2, 623 FRIDAY’S STARS Tim Doocy rode three winners. Eddie Razo and Kirk LeBlanc rode two winners. TODAY’S TIMES First post for the 11 races is 1 p.m. Gates open at 10: 55 a.m. TODAY’S SIMULCASTING SCHEDULE Laurel (11: 10 a.m. ), Tampa Bay Downs (11: 25 a.m. ), Aqueduct (noon ), Gulfstream Park (12: 15 p.m. ), Fair Grounds (12: 30 p.m. ), Hawthorne (1: 35 p.m. ), Santa Anita (2: 30 p.m. ), Bay Meadows (2: 45 p.m. ), Penn National (5: 45 p.m. ), Mountaineer (6 p.m. ), Charles Town (6: 15 p.m. ), Delta Downs (6: 30 p.m. ), Sam Houston Race Park (7 p.m. ), Southland Park Gaming & Racing (7 p.m. ), Australia (7 p.m. )
COUNTDOWN TO 3, 000 Four-time Oaklawn training champion David Vance is trying to become the 22 nd trainer in North American racing history to reach 3, 000 victories: VICTORIES 2, 994 FRIDAY’S RESULTS Minewander (first ) TODAY’S SCHEDULED STARTER None
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