BOYCE RIDES A CAREER-BEST FOUR WINNERS
LAUREL, MD. 12-02-10---Forest Boyce is ending her apprentice year with a bang as the bug rider rode a career-high four winners on Thursday’s nine-race card at Laurel Park. The 26-year-old, who becomes a journeyman jockey Sunday, scored aboard Toni’s the Won ($9.40-first), Red Rival ($3.40-second), Came East ($4.40-fifth) and Mo’s Bro ($7.40-ninth).
“It was a great day,” said Boyce, who has six three-win days during the current fall meeting. “The most exciting thing was I finally won one for Howard (trainer Howard Wolfendale in the 5th race). I had a lot of live mounts today and luckily the horses ran well.”
Since June 29, the Garrison Forest School and Maryland Institute College of Art graduate has 94 victories and has moved into consideration for an Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice, joining the likes of Maryland-based Joshua Navarro, who had 121 victories as an apprentice, and Frederic Lenclud, who won a pair of graded races. Both of those jockeys became journeyman riders in late August.
“It has been an awesome run,” added Boyce. “I have had great support. It seems like it has been even stronger the past couple weeks. Things have just been clicking.”
Boyce, with 117 first place finishes and $1.85 million in earnings for the year, has six scheduled mounts Friday and seven Saturday.
She leads the standings with 59 victories, 31 more than Sheldon Russell and Julian Pimentel.
SQUAN SONG STAKES TOPS SATURDAY CARD
My Misty’s Echo heads a well-balanced field of fillies and mares in Saturday’s $50,000 Squan Song Handicap, a seven-furlong race at Laurel Park restricted to Maryland-breds searching for their first stakes victory.
My Misty’s Echo, the 2-1 favorite, slipped down the claiming ladder and climbed back up since her appearance in last year’s Squan Song, where she set the pace but then finished next to last. Since then she has won four times in her last six starts for trainer Damon Dilodovico, the last time beating $25,000 optional claiming company here on Oct. 15.
“We gave her time coming out of the last race, trying to avoid the ‘bounce’ factor. She gave us a couple of good works since,” Dilodovico said. “She has changed a lot. She’s put on weight and she’s manageable. She was difficult to deal with before.”
No rider is named. The conditioner indicated candidates include Jeremy Rose, Travis Dunkelberger and Harry Vega.
Heaven’s Voice (5-2) finished third in last year’s Squan Song and has finished in the money 15 times in 20 career starts. She forced the pace in the Maryland Million Distaff Handicap, then shipped to win at Charles Town in her past two starts. Chris Grove trains the Lion Hearted filly. J D Acosta has the mount.
“She’s always gives me what she has,” said Grove, who leads all trainers with 51 wins at the major Maryland tracks this year. “She is not a Silmaril or a Sweet Goodbye but she tries and I love that about her. She has always been one of my favorites in the barn because she isn’t big so it would mean a lot to win a stake. Last year she was third by a length and grabbed a quarter at the gate and I was surprised how well she did run. Her biggest problem is she doesn’t relax. The distance could be a concern if she doesn’t relax Saturday but we are hoping she relaxes early and comes running.”
Music Please (7-2) has won her two lifetime starts for trainer Rodney Jenkins. Both were at Laurel under Eric Camacho, who keeps the mount, and both were at Saturday’s distance. Music Please is a 3-year-old filly by Bowman’s Band.
Kincoralyn (4-1) ships from Fair Hill off a win over older fillies and mares at Philadelphia Park. That win followed a third in the Maryland Million Oaks and a fifth place finish in Delaware’s Tax Free Distaff. Mark Shuman trains the Two Punch filly and Luis Garcia retains the mount.
Prom Time (8-1) and Little Ice Patch (20-1) complete the line-up.
Laurel will host the Maryland State Beer Pong Championships Saturday afternoon in the Carriage Room. The annual Toy Drive takes place as well, with all donations benefitting the Bea Gaddy Family Center, Children’s Favorite Things and St. Vincent de Paul.
TRAINER STANDINGS EVEN WITH 10 DAYS REMAINING
John Rigattieri moved back into a tie for first place in the Laurel Park fall training standings when Leon Royale ($5) won the seventh race. Rigattieri and Hamilton Smith each have 16 trips to the winners’ circle during the stand, which began Sept. 11 and will end Dec. 18. Ferris Allen and Dickie Small are two back with 10 live racing days remaining in 2010.
-mjc-
PHOTO CREDIT-Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club
Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club
410-578-4461 (Pimlico)
301-470-5461 (Laurel Park)
240-876-7403 (Mobile)
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