Carmouche convinces Ryerson to equip Holmdel Park with blinkers
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Two of trainer Jim Ryerson’s six wins at the Aqueduct winter meet have come with horses he has equipped with blinkers for the first time. Ryerson hopes that same change of equipment works for Holmdel Park when she runs Friday in a first-level allowance/optional $80,000 claiming race for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct.
Aqueduct is one of a handful of tracks throughout the country that is permitted to conduct business during the coronavirus pandemic. Only essential personnel are permitted on the grounds, i.e., trainers, jockeys, grooms, and track officials. Neither fans nor owners are permitted to attend. Over the next two weeks, racing is scheduled to be conducted Friday through Sunday.
Holmdel Park, a daughter of D’Funnybone owned by WellSpring Stables, is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Maddie May Stakes here on Feb. 23. After breaking on top, Holmdel Park dropped back to last in the five-horse field and could never make headway on the competition as Ice Princess drew away to win by 2 1/2 lengths.
Ryerson said jockey Kendrick Carmouche has mentioned to him more than once that he feels Holmdel Park would benefit from blinkers. Ryerson put them on for a March 8 workout in which Holmdel Park went a half-mile in 47.60 seconds, the fastest of 99 breezes over the Belmont Park training track that morning.
“She worked very, very well, but she’s worked well a lot,” said Ryerson, noting the equipment change is “more what Kendrick’s been feeling. He mentioned it a couple of times and we got to the point where we’re going to give a try.
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“I always thought she had a little more lick than she’s been showing. Hopefully, this will put her a little more into the race.”
There is depth to this eight-horse field. Pot of Honey, a daughter of Bayern trained by Gary Sciacca for Paul Giacopelli, is coming off a three-length maiden win here on Feb. 22. The horse she beat that day, Honey Money, came back to win her maiden by six lengths on Sunday.
Pot of Honey looked a little uncomfortable racing on the inside in both of her starts. Once switched to the outside, she came with a steady run. Friday, she will be stretching out to a mile after racing at six furlongs.
Manny Franco rides Pot of Honey from post 7.
Eric Cancel was aboard for Pot of Honey’s maiden win. He has elected to ride Stonezapper, whom he rode to a 2 1/2-length maiden win on Feb 15 for Linda Rice. Stonezapper, by Ghostzapper out of an Empire Maker mare, has a strong wet-track pedigree, which could come into play on Friday.
Courageous Girl, Grudge, Wear My Ring, Makingcents, and My My Michelle round out the field.
Shippers must race and return
The New York Racing Association is accepting horses not stabled on the grounds to ship in only on a race-and-return basis.
Horses based out of town must be on the overnight and ship directly to Aqueduct. Martin Panza, NYRA’s senior vice president of racing operations, said horsemen interested in shipping in from tracks like Gulfstream or Oaklawn should contact him “and then I’ll get clarification for them.”
