Centeno plans to ride at Presque Isle
OLDSMAR, Fla. - Daniel Centeno, who has managed to build a commanding lead in the rider standings at Tampa Bay Downs despite having survived several spills as well as being kicked in the chest by a horse in the paddock, will be moving to a different part of the country when this meet concludes on May 2.
Centeno, who rode at Monmouth Park the past three seasons, will be heading to Presque Isle Downs in western Pennsylvania, according to his agent, Dan Mellul.
"While we have some good clients in Jersey, it's no secret the meeting this summer there will be like no other," Mellul said, referring to Monmouth's plans to offer $1 million a day in purses and race on a three-day-a-week schedule. "Danny's the type of rider who likes to stay active and ride every day, and if we went to Monmouth it's conceivable we could have days when we wouldn't have one mount. If we go to Presque Isle we should be busy every day. Mountaineer and Thistledown aren't far away and there may well be opportunities at those tracks as well."
Mellul added that if anyone doubted Centeno's toughness, his resiliency this meet should put an end to that.
"He's a tough guy and he loves competition," Mellul said. "Every time he's been hurt his first thought has been, 'How quick can I get back to riding?' He's second in the country in races won right now and he's very keen on trying to stay among the national leaders in that category. By going to Presque Isle he feels he can do that."
Local trainers take two stakes
While Elvis Trujillo came in from out of town to win three of the six stakes on Saturday's Florida Cup program, locally based trainers won two of the races for Florida-bred runners.
Anthony Pecoraro, who is having one of his best meetings here in some time, sent out Thunder Brew to take the Sophomore Turf under Victor Lebron, while Tom Proctor, who has divisions of his outfit at several venues, saddled Close Out, winner of the Filly and Mare Turf with Jesus Castanon aboard.
Locally based jockey David Amiss rode Tommy's Memory to victory in the Sprint. Anthony Ryan trains Tommy's Memory.
Another tough beat for Ryan
Trainer Derek Ryan, whose Schoolyard Dreams lost the Tampa Bay Derby by the shortest of noses, lost another heart-breaking photo Saturday at Aqueduct when 2009 Tampa Bay Derby winner Musket Man was caught in the final strides by Warrior's Reward in the Grade 1 Carter. Schoolyard Dreams, meanwhile, finished fourth behind early Kentucky Derby favorite Eskendereya in the Wood Memorial.