Churchill Downs notes: Margolis revels in Wine Princess's career-capping victory

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Steve Margolis is one of those “act like you’ve been there before” trainers who rarely shows much emotion following a victory, but he just couldn’t help himself Thursday after Wine Princess made her career finale a winning one in the Grade 2 Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Margolis, along with his wife, Sue, celebrated far more outwardly than normal following the Falls City, as did Becky and Jim Winemiller, who in October sold Wine Princess for post-racing purposes to Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm for an undisclosed amount.

Not surprisingly, in their two years together, Margolis had become quite attached to Wine Princess, a 4-year-old filly who was known even by casual racing fans for her uncommonly supreme bloodlines – she was sired by 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper and produced by 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri.

“She’s been a tremendous horse to be around,” Margolis said. “Bill Recio broke her in Ocala as a young horse and sent her to me ready-made in early November 2011. With everybody always being so aware of her pedigree, and to have her go out the way she did, it was a real emotional experience for all of us. She’s leaving here Sunday morning for Hill ‘n’ Dale, and we’re really going to miss her.”

Meanwhile, Falls City runner-up Don’t Tell Sophia performed creditably when rallying from last to finish 2 3/4 lengths behind Wine Princess while spotting her five pounds.

“It was a pretty slow pace [a half-mile in 49.30 seconds], and that couldn’t have helped us,” said trainer Phil Sims, adding that Don’t Tell Sophia will winter at Oaklawn Park again to race as a 6-year-old.

Avanzare shows promise

Donato Lanni was a familiar face in the Churchill winner’s circle Thursday. Lanni not only represented Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm for the Falls City, but he also is the co-owner of Avanzare, an impressive winner of his career debut just 30 minutes beforehand.

Avanzare, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Grand Reward, went wire to wire under Julien Leparoux in a maiden special weight race at 1 1/16 miles on turf, earning an eye-catching 88 Beyer Speed Figure. Lanni and John Youngblood bought him for just $1,100 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Eastern fall yearling sale in Maryland in October 2011. Tom Proctor is the trainer.

“I think we’ve got a runner,” a beaming Lanni said.

Jockeys sticking around

While most of the top Churchill jockeys will have departed by Sunday to ride this winter at either Fair Grounds or Gulfstream Park, a handful will stick around Kentucky for the next month or so while waiting for the opening of Oaklawn Park on Jan. 10.

That means Turfway fans can expect to see Jon Court, Channing Hill, and Roberto Morales among the jockeys accepting mounts for the first few weeks of a holiday meet that starts Sunday at the northern Kentucky track.

There is at least one notable newcomer to the Turfway colony: Noel Vigil, a 24-year-old Panamanian who rode with some frequency this year for Wayne Catalano on the Chicago circuit, where he has been a regular since moving to Hawthorne in early 2012. Vigil, who rode his first race in the United States in 2009, will be represented by Jimmy McNerney, the top agent at Turfway in recent years.

Maker tops trainers

Heading into the final two cards of the 25-day Churchill meet, Mike Maker had clinched no worse than a tie for the training title. Maker, with 15 wins from his first 74 starters, had a total of seven entries on the Friday and Saturday cards, whereas Bret Calhoun (13 for 34) had just two horses to run, both Saturday.

Maker’s top clients, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, already had clinched the owners’ title, and Corey Lanerie had a lock on being the top jockey for the fourth time in five Churchill meets. For the Ramseys, it was the eighth time this year they were the leading owners at a race meet.

Filly is fine after mishap

Gal About Town escaped serious injury after throwing jockey Jesus Castanon following a 1 1/4-length victory in a second-level, one-mile allowance Wednesday at Churchill.

Gal About Town, a 3-year-old filly who was second in a controversial renewal of the Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill in 2012, “just stumbled galloping out and threw Jesus right over her head,” trainer Charlie LoPresti said. “Everybody’s fine, fortunately. I’ll be giving the filly the winter off, just like most of my other horses.”

Picklesimer at the helm

The holiday meet begins a new era in the Turfway racing office as Tyler Picklesimer takes over for his stepfather, Rick Leigh, as director of racing and racing secretary. Leigh had held the same position for almost 25 years. He recently turned 66 and is now semi-retired while maintaining his position as a steward at Churchill and Keeneland. He and his wife, Amy, will leave for Hollywood, Fla., on Sunday.

Picklesimer, 42, has been a racing official since 1994 and has been the racing secretary for the Thoroughbred program at Colonial Downs in Virginia since 2008.