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Barn Notes: Thursday, May 05, 2011
In Today’s Notes:
·
· Arlington’s Mid-America Triple Previewed at Churchill Friday
· Reminder: Three Different Post Times on
After arriving at
This spring, on the south side of Chicago, Santana finished in another tie – but this time it was for the leading rider title at Hawthorne, earning the 32-year-old native of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, the first championship of a career that began in his native land, continued next in South Florida but was then spent mostly on the Maryland circuit until 2010.
“I’m very happy – very content to win that title,” said the amiably-understated Santana during training hours this week at
It is Santana’s obvious attraction to the horse as an animal that has a lot of trainers becoming increasingly attracted to Santana.
“J. Z. just naturally loves all horses and he seems to develop an inherent sense of communication with them,” said Santana’s agent Penny Ffitch-Heyes. “Just watch him when he walks into the paddock to ride a horse he’s never even seen before. Watch how he goes up to them and starts rubbing on their heads or scratching their ears. He doesn’t even realize that he’s doing it, but of course most horses respond to that sort of thing.”
Santana’s first riding title is not the only new thing in his life. He was introduced to Ms. Ffitch-Heyes’ baby sitter last year, married her this year and now he and bride Anna are expecting a baby girl to come along before the end of the
“This will be another first for me – having a little girl,” Santana said, who has two boys, six and seven years old, from a previous relationship. “I love my wife and my kids, and when I’m not around the horses I like to be around my family.”
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Barn Notes
May 5, 2011
Page 2
It’s opening day of the 2011
However, in addition to the 137th running of the Kentucky Oaks on Friday as the feminine counterpart to Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, the Twin Spires oval will run the 20th anniversary edition of its Grade II $200,000 American Turf, presented by Ram, for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16-miles over Churchill’s Matt Winn Turf Course.
Churchill’s American Turf serves as a precursor for
Eleven of the 14 grass-favoring sophomores named to Friday’s American Turf in
Mid-America Triple nominees Banned, owned by Glen Hill Farm, and the Irish-bred Surrey Star, who races in the silks of Class Racing Stable, are the first and second morning line choices respectively for Churchill’s American Turf.
THREE DIFFERENT POST TIMES ON
Guests of
There will be free admission for all customers on Opening Day and the first 5,000 customers will get a coupon good for a hot dog and a draft beer, or a hot dog and a soft drink for just a penny. Also on Opening Day,
On Saturday at
On Mother’s Day Sunday, when post time is slated for 1 p.m., the gates will open at 11:15 p.m. and the first 5,000 ladies through the gates will receive a free rose.
Also, there will be an opportunity to get a free keepsake photo with the whole family taken by one of
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