Less than a month after Jareth Loveberry broke his fibula in a crash at the departure gate at Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slotsthe racer entered the winner’s circle on March 25 at Race Park riding a pony in preparation for the Kentucky Derby (G1).
“Right now the pain is gone,” Loveberry said after the $694,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), smiling ear to ear with the winner’s blanket slung over his shoulder.
The Illinois and Louisiana-based racer’s rapid recovery is aided by the fact that he regularly races against promising people. Two Phil the son of Spin hard who set himself on the trail of the Derby late last year with a wet walk Churchill Downs strip in Street Sense Stakes (G3). Starting his sophomore campaign in New Orleans, the pony trained by Larry Rivelli finished in second place. Instant coffee in Lecomte Stakes (G3), followed by a third in Risen Star Stakes (G2) after another Brad Cox intern in angel of the empire .
Racing on the synthetic track for the first time, the foal paid tribute to his father Hard Spun’s victory in the same Derby prepared on the synthetic track 16 years earlier with a resounding score at the distance. glass 1 1/8 mile Jeff Ruby, bring it back to its owner, trainer, and make a dream trip to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
“The original plan probably didn’t run in this location,” Riveli said. “I was just looking for the best route to take Two Phil’s to the Kentucky Derby. With this race on the calendar, I think it’s the perfect time and the perfect place. We’re on our way to the Derby.”
Two Phils Win Jeff Ruby Steaks
Facing a field of Turfway managers beyond impressive eventual winner John Battaglia Congruent and the winners of the bets are classified Major from Todd Pletcher’s warehouse, Two Phil’s is getting ready to bring its ‘A’ game on Saturday, prepping Jeff Ruby with a 5-minute tune on the surface last weekend. Positioning in the middle of the pack as early as Funtastic again hit: 23.49 in the first quarter and: 47.84 half a mile, Loveberry helped Two Phil’s get off the bench with no trouble and on the final turn he launched a rally powerful four-way from the outside.
Facing Major Dude in the long, fierce winds of Florence, Ky., did nothing to slow Two Phil’s, and he drove home with a 5 1/4 win in the out his polytrack eye. The pony owned by Patricia’s Hope and Philip Sagan stopped the clock for a time of 1:49.03.
Major Dude, who traveled with Two Phil’s with 3/8 miles remaining, finished second, ahead of Funtastic Again in third place 2 3/4 of the way.
Two Phil’s Jeff Ruby win put him at the top of the Road to Kentucky Derby standings with 123 points. Major Dude and Funtastic Once again put their name on the Derby picture, earning 40 and 30 points. Wadsworth who finished in fourth place, bringing home 20 points.
manufacturer’s candy not the original Triple Crown contender, would need to be a late contender to earn 10 points for fifth place.
“Last time (in The Resurrection Star) he had a beautiful ride but it looks like he ran at his best in the back of the horse,” Loveberry said of Two Phil’s. “I think he is getting better with each start. He ran well at Lecomte but I think he was even better at Risen Star. It’s been exciting to work with a horse like this and a team that has supported me.
“This horse is really special to us. And he’s won the Churchill Downs before. I hope it rains again on Derby Day.”
Bred by Sagan of Kentucky, Two Phil’s was the first of the ponies Common neighborhood mare Mia Torri . The youngest product of the twice winning mare is a hungry pony Omaha Beach and wean the pony by McKinzie .
Videotapes: Jeff Ruby Steak (G3)
Botanical is fourth in a row with Bourbonette Score
rock star Botanical excellently took fourth place in a row at the Florence oval in a landslide victory at the $299,200 Bourbonette Oaks for 3-year-olds.
Under Chris Landeros, daughter of Medaglia d’Oro strutted home with a 2 1/2-length win to complete 1 1/16 miles in a final time of 1:44.47 for coach Brad Cox and owner LNJ Foxwoods and Clearsky Farms.
Botanical beat Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park
“I can’t really tell you exactly what made her who she is today but she seems to be getting better with every race,” said assistant coach Tessa Walden. “I think whenever you go to a race like the Kentucky Oaks, you go there. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The chubby guy earned 50 points against Kentucky Oaks (G1), while runner-up flashy gems lost 20.
Thirty of you Kelvin , Miss New York And ammo Ag made the top 5, with the latter earning 5 Oaks points. Thirty of you Kelvin and Miss New York was not the original Oaks contender but will be awarded 15 and 10 points respectively if they are eventually nominated.
Videotapes: Bourbonette Oaks (BT)
