Big-ticket Godolphin horses disappoint
Even Godolphin takes the occasional humbling in this game.
The worldwide powerhouse stable, widely expected to be named North America’s outstanding owner and breeder when 2021 Eclipse Awards are handed out Feb. 10 in Los Angeles, was represented by a pair of maidens that cost a combined $7 million in the same race last Saturday at Tampa – and neither was able to win.
Aussie Pride, a 4-year-old Curlin colt who fetched $4.1 million at the 2019 Keeneland September yearling sales, finished a fast-closing second on debut for trainer Bill Mott as a 7-1 shot in the eighth race, a maiden-special with a $25,000 purse at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
Brother In Arms, a 4-year-old War Front gelding who was making his first start for trainer Eoin Harty after racing twice last winter for Mott, was fifth at 12-1 in the same race. Godolphin paid $2.9 million for him at the same Keeneland sale.
Three Wednesday allowances
A trio of $26,000 first-level allowances are on a solid nine-race Wednesday card that begins another four-day race week at Tampa.
A well-matched field of six 3-year-old fillies led by She’s Peachy Keen and Little Miss Sassy will go six furlongs in race 2, followed later in the day by two divisions of fillies and mares going five furlongs on the turf (races 7 and 9).
Sunny skies and a high near 80 are in the forecast for a program starting at 12:15 p.m. Eastern.
◗ Apprentice Maddie Rowland is now riding with a seven-pound allowance after notching her fifth career victory Friday aboard Ride Em. She will have one year to ride with a weight allowance that will be lowered to five pounds when she gets her 35th winner. Rowland, 18, grew up in the horse country around Fair Hill, Md., and is the daughter of Paul Rowland, who trained jumpers prior to his death in 2012.
◗ Samy Camacho rode three winners last week in maintaining a nine-win edge (41-32) over Pablo Morales atop the jockey standings, while perennial kingpin Gerald Bennett continues to hold the top spot among trainers with 18 wins.