Gargan savoring first Churchill winner
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Danny Gargan grew up on First Street, just a couple of miles from Churchill Downs, and has worked countless racetrack jobs in reaching his current age of 47, including jockey agent, bloodstock agent, and assistant trainer.
Having moved several years ago to New York, where his career as the trainer of a public stable has flourished, Gargan was ecstatic to win with his first-ever starter at Churchill when Divine Miss Grey dominated the Saturday nightcap, the Grade 2 Chilukki Stakes.
“To win a Grade 2 with your first starter at your hometown track is pretty special,” he said Monday from Belmont Park. “She’s a cool horse, really loves her job.”
Gargan, who has about 40 horses currently split between New York and Florida, said he intends to bring 25 to 30 horses to Keeneland next spring.
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Mena with first win back
Miguel Mena celebrated his first winner in nearly eight months when guiding Nine Martinis to a narrow victory in the first race Sunday at Churchill. Mena returned last month at Keeneland following a lengthy rehabilitation from ankle and heel fractures sustained in a March 15 spill at Fair Grounds, where he had been the leading rider at the time.
Nine Martinis was the ninth mount for Mena, who turned 32 on Tuesday, since he returned to the saddle Oct. 25 at Keeneland. He will ride here through this week, with Sunday being his final day before he leaves for New Orleans and the Fair Grounds meet that starts Nov. 15.
Three allowances featured
Three straight allowances (races 7, 8, 9), each carrying a purse of at least $78,500, will anchor a 10-race Wednesday card that starts at 1 p.m. Eastern. All three are part of a 20-cent Single 6 sequence (races 5-10) sporting a carryover of $38,367 from Sunday. In addition, there is a carryover of $21,311 in the $1 Super High 5 starting with the day’s first race.
