Butler glad to be riding Richies Sweetheart in Turf Dash
OLDSMAR, Fla. – Dean Butler inherited the mount on Richies Sweetheart at the last minute Dec. 19 because another jockey failed to show up at Tampa Bay Downs, and the horse and rider became fast friends, scoring by a half-length in the $80,000 Lightning City Stakes. That ride earned Butler a return call aboard Richies Sweetheart when the 5-year-old mare takes on a strong group of males here Saturday in the $100,000 Turf Dash.
Ten horses ages 4 and up were entered in the five-furlong grass sprint, including the Grade 3 stakes winner Power Alert.
Richies Sweetheart had a strong 2015 campaign for trainer and co-owner Larry Rivelli, winning the Brandywine Stakes at Indiana Grand and the Turf Amazon Handicap at Parx before scoring in the Lightning City. E.T. Baird was scheduled to ride her in the Lightning City but didn’t show up at the track, and Butler made the most of his opportunity.
“She was the best horse in the race, and Larry just told me to get her out of the gate and ride her with confidence, and that’s what I did,” Butler said. “I was able to give her a good breather around the turn, and when she was challenged, she responded down the lane. Hopefully, she can do the same thing Saturday.”
Rivelli said Richies Sweetheart is entering the Turf Dash in top form and can be expected to take her usual spot on the lead.
“The last few days, she’s been training really well,” Rivelli said. “They’re going to have to come running to beat her because she’s doing even better than she was going into her last race.”
Power Alert, trained and owned by Brian Lynch, has made four consecutive starts in Grade 3 races, most recently finishing fourth in the Parx Dash Handicap in July. The 6-year-old Australian-bred won the Grade 3 Turf Sprint on the Kentucky Oaks undercard last May and took the $75,000 Silks Run Stakes at Gulfstream Park last March.
Power Alert has been training steadily at Palm Meadows, and Lynch said the horse should be ready for a top effort off the bench.
“I think so,” Lynch said. “He’s been training very solid and hasn’t missed a beat, he’s fresh, and he seems like a very happy horse right now.”
Turf Dash, Race 3
KEY CONTENDERS
Richies Sweetheart (Last 3 Beyers: 95-60-79)
◗ This horse is tough to beat in turf sprints, with seven wins in 10 such starts.
Power Alert (Last 3 Beyers: 94-96-102)
◗ Lynch said Power Alert would prefer a firm turf course, but it rained here briefly Wednesday, and more rain was in the forecast Friday and Saturday. Power Alert gets leading jockey Antonio Gallardo for the first time.
Fast Flying Rumor (Last 3 Beyers: 87-60-65)
◗ The winner of the Select Stakes at Monmouth Park last summer, he won the optional-claiming prep for the Turf Dash by 1 1/2 lengths Dec. 11. He turned in a bullet workout here Dec. 23, working four furlongs in 48.20 seconds.
Ancil (Last 3 Beyers: 68-92-88)
◗ He won this race in 2014, setting a five-furlong course record of 54.88 seconds that has since been eclipsed, but he has lost 11 consecutive starts since then.
Beantown Saint (Last 3 Beyers: 96-93-92)
◗ Enters off two straight sharp victories in optional claimers for trainer John Servis and turned in a bullet workout at Palm Meadows on Dec. 31, going four furlongs in 48 seconds flat.