Gardenia one possibility for On Fire Baby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – On Fire Baby is scheduled to breeze Saturday at Churchill Downs before trainer Gary Hartlage decides what to do next with the multiple Grade 1-winning mare.

Hartlage backed off his stable star after On Fire Baby finished fifth in the June 14 Fleur de Lis at Churchill, but the trainer said the mare is showing spirited signs and the Saturday work could determine when and where she will race next.

On Fire Baby, bred and owned by Anita Cauley, had a five-furlong breeze in 1:02 last Saturday at Churchill, marking her first work in the five weeks that had elapsed since the Fleur de Lis. On Fire Baby had no apparent mishap when sent away a solid favorite in the Fleur de Lis on the strength of her prior victory in the Grade 1 La Troienne. She has earnings of $1,089,108 from 16 career starts.

“We’ve just kind of been taking it easy with her and letting her get back to herself,” said Hartlage. “We honestly haven’t even discussed what we’re doing next. After this breeze Saturday, though, I think Anita and I will go through our options.”

Hartlage did not discount the possibility of running On Fire Baby in the Grade 3, $100,000 Gardenia Stakes at one mile. The annual Ellis Park showcase is set for Aug. 9.

“Nominations are due this Saturday, so we’ll be taking a look at it,” he said.

Turf Dash next for Good Lord

Good Lord will try to extend his current hot streak when making his next start in the $200,000 Kentucky Cup Turf Dash on Sept. 24 at Kentucky Downs, trainer Forrest Kaelin reported Wednesday morning at Churchill.

Good Lord won for the third straight time when holding off Ghost Is Clear to capture the $50,000 Don Bernhardt on Saturday at Ellis. The 7-year-old Good Lord was an odds-on favorite when increasing his career record to 13 wins from 60 starts and earnings of $645,454.

“He won that Kentucky Downs race two years ago,” noted Kaelin, who will turn 80 in January. “I’m sure it’ll come up really tough this time, with the purse as nice as it is. But our horse came out of the Ellis race in great shape, and the time between starts is just about right. He’s tough right now and I couldn’t be any happier with him.”

The owners of Good Lord, Stan Young and Thomas Shank, live in Bowling Green, less than a half-hour from turf-only Kentucky Downs in south-central Kentucky.

“It’s great for the owners to get to run the horse down there,” said Kaelin.

No penalty for Saez’s DQ

Apprentice rider Juan Saez was held blameless for the disqualification of his mount in a race last weekend at Ellis and therefore will not be suspended, allowing him to continue his quest for the title of leading rider at a 29-day meet that runs through Sept. 1.

Saez, 17, leads with 16 wins as another three-day weekend commences Friday at Ellis. Miguel Mena (11 wins) and Leandro Goncalves (10) are next in the standings.

Saez’s mount Lil Wee Acres was disqualified from first to second for drifting out and impeding Hello Smokey in the seventh race Saturday.

Court needs more time

Jockey Jon Court said he was informed Tuesday by noted hand surgeon Joseph Kutz that he needs to wait another six to eight weeks before he can return to action.

Court suffered complex fractures of his right hand in a spill on the final race of the May 3 Kentucky Derby program at Churchill.

“I’m going to continue with occupational therapy,” said Court. “The injury was worse than we all first thought, but Dr. Kutz is among the best in the world and I’m confident everything will be fine given time.”

Court, 53, has won more than 3,800 races in a career that began in 1980.

71-year-old rider tries again

Legendary jockey R.A. “Cowboy” Jones is named on one mount Saturday at Ellis as he continues to try to become the first jockey known to win races in seven different decades.

Jones, 71, won his first race in 1959. He has ridden very infrequently in recent years while working as an exercise rider at Ellis, his home track. His last win came in 2004.

◗ There is no stakes on Saturday at Ellis, with the next one being the Gardenia. However, the Saturday card will feature the ever-popular ostrich and zebra races that always attract a sizable ontrack crowd. The nominal feature will be a $30,500 allowance.

◗ The transformation of the main track at Keeneland continues to move right along, as the first loads of dirt were spread Monday at the Lexington, Ky., track. After eight years of Polytrack, Keeneland will have its new surface ready when the fall meet starts Oct. 3.