Choose Joy sidelined with soft-tissue injury
Choose Joy has been one of the stars of the local racing season, having won five of her eight starts and missing by a neck and a nose in two others during her 2021 campaign. Four of those victories have come in overnight handicaps, including her last three in a row. She scored a 2 1/2-length triumph when making her debut over the synthetic surface here earlier this month.
But for those anxiously awaiting Choose Joy’s next start, the wait could be a long one. The 4-year-old daughter of Munnings was pulled up by jockey Miguel Vasquez after crossing the wire following her most recent victory. Her owner-trainer, Steve Dwoskin, confirmed Thursday that Choose Joy suffered a minor soft-tissue injury that will likely keep her sidelined at least until next summer.
“Miguel said she was fine during the race but that she made a bad step after finishing and he didn’t want to take a chance bringing her back to the winner’s circle,” Dwoskin explained. “When she got back to the barn, she was walking sound. The vet couldn’t find any problems, but she had some filling the next morning and he advised we give her some time off. I was probably going to give her a break anyway. I figured why run against those world beaters that come down here each winter? I’ll just give her the time now and wait until next summer when we can run against the same kind of horses she’s been beating regularly this summer.
“She’s obviously been very special to me. Was like having an ATM machine in the barn the way she had been performing, especially over the past several months. I wish I had a barnful like her.”
Manor House has new trainer
Saturday’s featured ninth race will mark the local debut of the promising 3-year-old Manor House as well as the training debut of Michelle Hemingway, who works for Thorostock, the company that manages the racing affairs for Newtown Anner Stud Farm.
Manor House, a son of Upstart previously trained by Michael Stidham, opened his career in sensational fashion, winning his debut by more than a dozen lengths going a mile last December at Laurel Park. He finished a troubled seventh in his second start five weeks later at the Fair Grounds before going to Newtown Anner’s farm in Ocala, Fla., where he’s done the bulk of his training in preparation for his return here Saturday.
“I’m in charge of bloodstock, rehab and the training of the horses on the farm,” said Hemingway. “I had previously gotten my trainer’s license in South Africa, but this will be the first horse to run in my name in the U.S. Obviously what he did in his first start made our eyes pop, but after his second race we just decided to give him some time. We got him ready for the most part on the farm. I brought him down here last week and worked him over the track and he went well, a nice, easy half in 48.40.
“He’s all class and a big, beautiful-striding horse. That’s one reason we wanted to start him back at a mile rather than six furlongs, although it’s a little hard to say whether he might need a race off the layoff or not.”
Manor House was entered in a similarly conditioned race going six furlongs restricted to Florida-breds that drew a full field of 12 here Friday.
:: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures.
Manor House will break from the rail Saturday as part of a nine-horse field that includes Irish Honor and Financial System, both from the barn of leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Financial System is the likely favorite, having captured three of his last four starts, including a $10,000 open claiming dash by 6 1/4 lengths four weeks earlier.
Financial System was claimed out of his last start by Joseph for owner Frank Calabrese and will compete under a $25,000 price tag on Saturday.
Other key contenders include Another Duke and Hard Lighting, who finished third and fifth under similar conditions on Aug. 21.