BOYCE TIES CAREER BEST WITH FOUR WINNERS TO MOVE INTO THE LEAD FOR THE YEAR-ROUND RIDING TITLE
LAUREL, MD. 12-16-10---Forest Boyce tied a career-high by riding four winners on Thursday’s nine-race card at snowy Laurel Park to take the lead in the overall rider standings in Maryland for 2010 with two live racing days remaining in the year.
Boyce, who began the day tied with Erick Rodriguez, visited the winners’ circle with Sassy Number ($3.20-race 3), The Mad Limey ($6.40-race 5), Ham And Ernie ($3.80-seventh) and Auctoritas ($6-eighth).
“I am super pumped,” said Boyce, who also had four winners here on Dec. 2. “I had live mounts today and it worked out well.”
Boyce has 101 wins at Laurel and Pimlico Race Course this year, including 68 during the current fall meeting, three more than Rodriguez.
OVERALL STANDINGS AT LAUREL & PIMLICO (Jan. 1-Dec. 16, 2010)
Mounts 1st-2nd-3rd Earnings
Forest Boyce 555 101-88-77 $1,586,050
Erick Rodriguez 447 98-65-68 $1,642,640
Boyce is named to ride horses in 16 of the 18 races Friday and Saturday, while Rodriguez has eight scheduled mounts during the same period.
Two of the winners (Sassy Number and Auctoritas) are conditioned by Richard Small, who moved into a first place tie in the fall trainer standings with John Rigattieri. Both have 18 victories with Hamilton Smith (17 wins) and Ferris Allen (16) still in the mix.
Chris Grove has wrapped up the year-round training title with 55 first place finishes, two more than Scott Lake, who does not have any starters the last two days.
STEADY WARRIOR FAVORED IN MARYLAND JUVENILE CHAMPIONSHIP
Six runners are entered in Saturday’s $50,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship, the eighth and feature offering on the meet ending, fan appreciation program at Laurel Park. Free admission is available to all fans, accompanied by a Laurel program, 25% savings on all food and beverages and the 2011 calendar giveaway.
Steady Warrior, an emerging star, is the morning line favorite in Saturday’s feature. The 6-5 choice has won two stakes from four lifetime starts. He broke his maiden at Delaware Park on Sept. 11, captured the Maryland Million Nursery in his next start (Oct. 2), finished second in the First State Dash at Delaware (Oct. 16) and then won the Tri State Futurity at Charles Town (Nov. 6). His Charles Town victory was particularly impressive in that he went to his knees at the start but still won the race going away.
“He’s a nice horse and is just learning how to run,” said Travis Dunkelberger, who has been aboard in all four races. “The lights at Charles Town freaked him out in his last race but her still won easy.”
Gary Capuano conditions Steady Warrior for ZMP Stable. The same connections campaigned Steady Warrior’s sire, Cherokee’s Boy, who won 19 of 48 career races for nearly $1.2 million.
Richard Small saddles Broad Rule (2-1) and will give a leg up to leading rider, Forest Boyce. The son of Dixie Union won his debut race and has finished in the money twice in three efforts since graduating from the maiden ranks.
Sagamore Farm’s Go Marie Tu (5-1) broke his maiden here during the Laurel Park summer meeting and then beat allowance runners at Charles Town. Eric Camacho will be the fifth rider to try his luck on the son of Congrats.
Concealed Identity (6-1) is one-for-two after two races here in October. The Eddie Gaudet trained son of 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Smarty Jones will carry J.D. Acosta for the first time.
Gaelic Partner (12-1) and C V Eis (20-1) complete the lineup.
Oliver’s Twist (1994) and Magic Weisner (2001) are among the winners of this race. Both had runner-up finishes in the Preakness as 3-year-olds.
-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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