Court notches confidence-boosting hat trick

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A down period of several months actually isn’t very long for a journeyman rider of nearly 35 years to endure. But after Jon Court enjoyed a breakthrough Sunday at Churchill Downs by riding three winners, he couldn’t even remember the last time he had enjoyed such a good day.

“I really can’t think of my last big day like that,” Court said Monday. “This latest injury, it really seemed to have that sense of drag.”

Court, who turns 54 on Nov. 23, returned to riding six weeks ago from a hand injury he described as “more stressful and intense” than your garden-variety jockey injury. He fractured his right hand in a spill in the final race on the May 3 Kentucky Derby card at Churchill.

“The hand is very intricate, and to get back the strength and dexterity you need, it took quite a bit of therapy,” said Court.

Court, who has won more than 3,850 races in a career that began in 1980, rode back-to-back winners Sunday in the fourth and fifth races with I’m Extraordinary ($61.60) and Simply Confection ($10.20), both for his father-in-law, trainer Jinks Fires. He then won a tight photo aboard Wild Student ($10.60) in the seventh.

“Winning that photo was icing on the cake,” said Court. “Those photos, they’re either like punches in the gut or great elation. It’s not like when a horse wins by five lengths. You’d like to think there’s more skill that comes into play when there’s such little room for error. It’s extremely rewarding to win those.”

Since his return to the saddle Sept. 27 – a layoff of nearly five months – Court had won just three times from 86 mounts prior to his Sunday hat trick.

Wise Dan awaiting evaluation

Trainer Charlie LoPresti said before winning the River City Handicap here Saturday with Villandry that he is cautiously optimistic that Wise Dan will be given clearance to be turned out for the winter as normal.

LoPresti said Wise Dan, the reigning two-time Horse of the Year, is scheduled to be re-evaluated this week by Dr. Larry Bramlage for the tiny ankle fracture that precluded him from attempting a three-peat in the Breeders’ Cup Mile earlier this month.

Under ideal circumstances, Wise Dan would return to training at Keeneland sometime in February after further recuperating on LoPresti’s farm just outside of Lexington, Ky., with an 8-year-old campaign starting as early as April. The injury did not require surgery.

Delayed milestone celebration

The next time Robby Albarado wins a race at Churchill, the veteran jockey will be acknowledged as just the third rider in track history to win 1,000 races – even though he has already achieved that milestone.

Albarado was notified last weekend that he has 1,000 Churchill wins because one of his mounts, Hesinfront, was awarded victory upon the disqualification of Proud Azteca from an Oct. 30 race. Proud Azteca was discovered to be ineligible after the fact.

Pat Day is the all-time Churchill leader with 2,482 local victories, followed by Calvin Borel with 1,170.

◗ Friday marks the only Downs After Dark card of the 26-day fall meet, with a James Bond theme in effect. First post is 4:30 p.m. Eastern, and general admission is $10.

The Saturday co-features are twin turf stakes for 3-year-olds, the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere and Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf.

Fans should brace for unseasonable cold all week, as an arctic blast was forecast to settle in Wednesday.

◗ A pair of two-turn allowances last weekend most likely produced contenders for the end-of-meet 2-year-old features, the Kentucky Jockey Club and Golden Rod on Nov. 29.

Mark Casse said his one-two finishers in the Saturday race, Sky Hero (79 Beyer Speed Figure) and Flashaway, both could go back in the Kentucky Jockey Club, while the top three in the filly counterpart Sunday – Simply Confection, Teen Pauline, and I’m a Chatterbox – all could make the Golden Rod.

◗ Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has confirmed Take Charge Brandi as likely for the Golden Rod, acknowledging that the filly probably needs to validate her 61-1 upset in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies if she is to legitimately challenge the unbeaten Lady Eli for a divisional Eclipse Award.

“If I like what I see with her training, we’ll probably run,” said Lukas.

◗ Chalk players had it rough here Sunday, as favorites went 0 for 10 on a card marked by upsets. There were only three winning 50-cent tickets sold on the early pick four wager (races 1-4), each worth $13,729, and only five winning 50-cent tickets on the late pick five (races 6-10), worth $6,212 each.

A 28-1 victory by Officer Griffin in the Sunday allowance feature was his fourth in a row and earned the 4-year-old gelding a career-high 92 Beyer.

◗ Turkish jockey Halis Karatas had a pair of fourth-place finishes when making his North American debut here Saturday with four mounts. A superstar in his homeland, Karatas, 42, is named to ride two races Wednesday for trainer Murat Sancal, a fellow Turk.

◗ Carve, never a major factor when sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, is getting a break before the 2015 meet at Oaklawn Park, where he will be pointed to the major handicap events, said trainer Brad Cox. A 4-year-old gelding, Carve had a very productive year, banking more than $460,000.