Emigh Bags Three
There are two jockeys in the jock’s room that one will never see a frown from, Jon Court and Chris Emigh (pictured). Chris Emigh currently shares the brighter smile of the two being he took three races on yesterday’s card including that of Prom Shoes in the featured Essex Handicap, and Hamazing Destiny, who broke his maiden yesterday by 10 and half lengths.
Not bad for Emigh, who last year rode 28 winners, and currently sits second in the standings with 10 winners, Terry Thompson leads with 16 winners. Starting off slow last year, Emigh broke through the gates in the middle of the meet, and landed wins in the Rebel aboard Sierra Sunset, the Prima Donna with Palanka City, and the Fifth Season atop Prom Shoes. Things only got better for the 36-year-old rider in 2008; he finished in the top five at Arlington, and took second place honors at Hawthorne.
“I am really pleased with how well the meet has started for me,” commented Emigh between races today. “I have won five races on one program several times, but winning three at Oaklawn was great, especially the feature.”
“The race on Prom Shoes worked out well. Prom Shoes is so good at relaxing, because of this he never has trained better in his life,” noted Emigh. “Hamazing Destiny wasn’t even breathing hard when I got him pulled up. If this colt runs long, you are going to be hearing a lot form him.”
If there are any indications from yesterday’s card, fans will be able to see Emigh smile a lot during the 2009 Oaklawn meet.
Big Stakes Weekend
Fans should be ready for a big holiday weekend at Oaklawn next week. Kicking off things on Saturday fans will be able to watch older fillies and mares battle it out in the $50,000 Pippin, on Sunday three-year-old fillies square off in the $50,000 Martha Washington, and to top it off is the $250,000 Southwest for three-year-old colts taking their shot for the Triple Crown.
The Pippin will be the first older filly and mare handicap for the season and looks to house about 10 entrants. Led by recent allowance winner Holistic, the Dan Pietz trainee will pick up the services of jockey Jon Court. The four-year-old Holy Bull filly shows a liking to the Oaklawn surface winning two of her three starts over the track.
Another worthy of attention is Comely Grace, who most recently finished second in her 2009 debut. The Donnie K. Von Hemel filly will be trying stakes company for the second time, but shows that the mile and sixteenth distance could be to her liking as she has recorded a win, place, and show all at the Pippin distance.
Sunday’s feature the $50,000 Martha Washington will bring forth one of the top three-year-old fillies in the country in Rachel Alexandra. According to stakes coordinator Craig Lytel, the one mile race is getting a lot of interest from horsemen.
Rachel Alexandra will receive most of the attention for her 2009 debut. The Hal Wiggins trainee owns the most accomplished record, having won the Grade II Golden Rod at Churchill Downs in her last outing, setting a stakes record as well. The bay filly enters the race with an impressive record of three wins from six starts.
Dixie Belle winner Hello Again (pictured) will step up to two turns in the Martha Washington. The Moises Yanez trainee scored her biggest win of her young career in the $50,000 Dixie Belle.
The topper for the holiday weekend card will be that of the $250,000 Southwest stakes. The one-mile event could see a field of 10 to 12 line up for the headliner on Monday.
The probable favorite Old Fashioned from the Larry Jones barn will be the one to catch. The grey son of Unbridled’s Song enters the race off a stellar win at Aqueduct in the Grade II Remsen stakes. Jones definitely has no shortage of talented horses in his barn, and Old Fashioned will begin his Triple Crown campaign with the Southwest. Jockey Ramon Dominguez will be in from New York to ride.
Silver City, also a son of Unbridled’s Song, will garner attention as well in the Southwest. The Bret Calhoun trainee won in gate to wire fashion in the Dixieland on opening day, and will be stretching out for the first time in the Southwest. Jockey Miguel Mena, who has ridden the colt in all his starts, will ride the grey in the biggest start of his career.
Oaklawn has produced the likes of Eight Belles, Lawyer Ron, Curlin, and Smarty Jones, and this year will be no different.
A Little Bit More
Donnie K. Von Hemel’s (pictured) Southwest starter Poltergeist worked this morning five panels in a comfortable 1:01.20 under jockey Quincy Hamilton. In other workout news Larry Jones’ Proud Spell took a three-eighths stroll at Fair Grounds in preparation for the Grade I Apple Blossom. The champion three-year-old filly worked 37.40 in preparation for her 2009 stakes debut.
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