SIR VRONSKI CONTINUES TO THRIVE
Trainer Quinn Howey hopped off a muscular, athletic gelding Wednesday morning and nodded his head towards the equine as his groom picked up the horse and walked him over to the hot walker machine in Barn 71, where Howey’s string of equines live.
“That’s him,” said Howey with a smile. “Sir Vronski.”
Sir Vronski has turned out to be a pretty cool horse…and that might be an understatement. The 7-year-old gelding has won 20 of 34 lifetime starts, with 4 wins from 5 starts in 2018.
It’s neat to see any horse that has a will to win like Sir Vronski does. There’s more to it, though. If you want to examine a versatile horse, take a peak at Sir Vronski’s past performances. The son of Vronsky has won on dirt, turf and synthetic surfaces while winning at distances of five furlongs to one mile and a sixteenth. He has gone to the lead and wired the field and has also sat off the pace and run down horses in front of him, before holding off the fast-closers late.
He can do it all.
“[Sir Vronski] used to be a horse that could only go wire to wire,” Howey recollected. “Unless he got an easy lead, he couldn’t hang on. Eventually he got older and, honestly, I think racing experience helped him become as versatile as he is now. That’s the biggest thing.”
“We gave [Sir Vronski] a chance to [sit off the pace] and be successful doing it,” said Howey. “Let’s say we run in a race where there was a horse on our inside with a lot of natural speed. Well, we let [Sir Vronski] sit off that horse. And then he realized, ‘Oh wow, I can pass that horse.’ I think he learned to be versatile that way.”
Sir Vronski, owned by longtime horse enthusiast Allen Aldrich, is out of the dam Sister Sally, by In Excess. Sister Sally has produced many winning foals, including Grade 2 victor Sircat Sally and recent Golden Gate starter allowance winner Madam Sophia. In fact, Sister Sally’s 2-year-old filly by Acclamation, named Accomplishedsister, is slated to run in her very first race this Saturday: a five furlong maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies.
For any handicapper or fan, it’s awfully hard not to respect Sir Vronski. For Quinn Howey, it’s impossible not to love him.
“I’m so proud of him,” said Howey. “He’s accomplished so much.”
TOP JOCKEY AND TRAINER RACE COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE
With four more racing days to go at the winter/spring meet, Abel Cedillo has 91 wins, seven more than Billy Antongeorgi III (84) and 8 more than Irving Orozco (83).
“Both of my riders are two very talented jockeys,” said agent Tom “Bomber” Doutrich, who represents both Cedillo and Orozco. “Their work ethic is spot on. We have had a lot of things go our way but we have worked hard and it’s been a lot of fun.”
“Abel is just solid,” continued Doutrich. “Irving has developed a little more consistency. It’s neat to see him grow up and turn into a nice, young man.”
Fernando “Shoes” Navarro, jockey agent for Billy Antongeorgi III, was quick to praise Antongeorgi III for his hard work throughout the meet.
“We’ve had a great meet,” said Navarro. “Billy’s been riding really well and we’ve been working really hard. I know when I put Billy on a horse he is going to give his best effort. Billy will ride hard for anyone. He’ll ride hard for first, second, third…it doesn’t matter. He goes out there and competes.”
In the trainer standings, Jonathan Wong has 52 wins, four more than Jerry Hollendorfer (48) and nine more than John Martin (43). Wong was all smiles Wednesday morning when asked to reflect on his winter/spring meet.
“The barn has had a terrific meet,” said Wong. “My barn help has worked very hard and my owners have been supportive of me running the horses in spots where we can win. I can’t thank my barn staff and owners enough. My grooms…they put in a lot of hours and work as hard as anyone. They really deserve so much credit.”
BELMONT STAKES DAY FEATURES TWO DIVISIONS OF THE ALBANY STAKES; MANDATORY PAYOUTS CLOSING DAY SUNDAY
A marathon 12-race card has been assembled for live racing at Golden Gate Fields on Belmont Stakes Day Saturday, June 9. The feature races on the card are the two divisions of the Albany Stakes, a five furlong turf dash for 3-year-olds and upward. 16 sprinters were entered in the race and the fields were split into two divisions, with eight horses per race. The first race on Saturday is at a special, early first post of 12:15 PM PST.
The first division of the Albany, which goes as Race 7, features My Friend Emma, who ran a gallant second in the Grade 3 All American Stakes just two weeks ago. The son of Tannersmyman last won a stake at Santa Rosa in the Jess Jackson Owners Handicap at 5 furlongs on the lawn (the same distance and surface as this race.) Other main contenders include Grade 3 placed gelding Many Roses and Southern California shippers Triston’s Trilogy and Life of Illusion.
Race 9 on the Saturday program is the second division of the Albany Stakes and attracts a strong cast. Leading the list of local entrants is defending Albany Stakes champion Krsto Skye, who was victorious at odds of 62-1 last year. His stablemate, 2018 Lost in the Fog stakes winner Tribal Storm, is also entered and comes into this race fresh off a sharp allowance win against his aforementioned barn mate. Southern California entrants in “Division 2” include Taman Guard from the Richard Mandella stable and Eddie Haskell, first off the claim for trainer Mark Glatt. Portando, who has won a pair of allowance races at Golden Gate, trains at Santa Anita under the care of conditioner Michael McCarthy and is also entered to run in the Albany.
Sunday afternoon is closing day of the Winter/Spring meet, with 11 or 12 races to be carded, according to General Manager and Vice President of Golden Gate Fields David Duggan. The 20 Cent Golden Pick Six will have a guaranteed payout along with the Late Pick 5, which will have a guaranteed pool of $50,000. Heading into Thursday’s card, the 20 Cent Golden Pick Six jackpot pool sits at $31,526.
Race 7: $50,000 Albany Stakes (Division 1)
Horse (Trainer, Jockey)
#1 Tristan’s Trilogy (Rafael Becerra, Abel Cedillo)
#2 My Friend Emma (Rhoda March, Ricky Gonzalez)
#3 Bay Muzik (Ari Herbertson, Alejando Gomez)
#4 Awhitesportscoat (Blaine Wright, Billy Antongeorgi III)
#5 Life of Illusion (Steve Miyadi, Irving Orozco)
#6 Many Roses (Ellen Jackson, Pedro Terrero)
#7 Annie’s Candy (Ari Herbertson, Frank Alvarado)
#8 Summersimage (Ricardo Perez, Catalino Martinez)
Race 9: $50,000 Albany Stakes (Division 2)
#1 Portando (Michael McCarthy, Juan Hernandez)
#2 Kochees (Jonathan Wong, Pablo Flores)
#3 Big Champion (Michael Curtis, Barrington Harvey)
#4 Aalsmeer (Aggie Ordonez, Frank Alvarado)
#5 Tribal Storm (Ari Herbertson, Irving Orozco)
#6 Taman Guard (Richard Mandella, Catalino Martinez)
#7 Krsto Skye (Ari Herbertson, William Antongeorgi III)
#8 Eddie Haskell (Mark Glatt, Abel Cedillo)
FINISH LINES: Hardboot, winner of the Silky Sullivan Stakes last month, ran second in the $200,000 Snow Chief Stakes at Santa Anita last weekend…Trainer Blaine Wright saddled Golden Gate Fields shipper Riser to a sharp win in the Governors Stakes for older horses at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington. Riser was ridden to victory by Northern California jockey Juan Hernandez. “Riser came out of the race great. He is happy and healthy,” reported Wright…Trainer Steve Sherman is one win away from 1,000 career victories…Happy belated birthday to trainer John Martin, who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday…Another happy birthday wish to Golden Gate Fields Director of Racing Patrick Mackey, who celebrates his birthday this Sunday…Good luck to Bay Area native Kyle Frey, who rides Peter Pan Stakes winner Blended Citizen in the Belmont Stakes. Blended Citizen ran second in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate in February…Good luck to loyal Golden Gate employee Del Scott, who retires Sunday afternoon after decades of work in the racing industry…Recent Golden Gate Fields allowance winner Animosity is scheduled to compete in the Grade 2 Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.
***Good luck to all horsemen, Northern California racing employees and personnel at the Northern California Fairs. See you on Opening Day for the summer meet, Thursday, August 23!!!***