Hazards of Love makes 70th career start in Sunday feature
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Chris Richard had some brief dealings with Hazards of Love even before he began training the 8-year-old gelding on a daily basis about a month ago.
“He’s one of the coolest horses I’ve ever been around in my life,” said Richard, a 44-year-old native of Lake Charles, La. “I can’t say enough nice things about him. He’s just an old warhorse who loves his job.”
On Sunday at Keeneland, Richard (pronounced Ree-SHARD) will saddle Hazards of Love for the nominal $60,000 feature, a second-level optional $62,500 claimer at 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Hazards of Love is entered for the tag, having long ago blown through his allowance conditions.
Richard assumed oversight of the Tom Amoss stable last month after Amoss was suspended 45 days for a medication violation that stemmed from 2011. Richard said owner Maggi Moss and Amoss had occasionally sent him Hazards of Love to race at Prairie Meadows and other outposts.
Coming off a runner-finish in a July 25 overnight stakes at Prairie Meadows, Hazards of Love and jockey Corey Lanerie will break from post 5 when facing seven other 3-year-olds and up. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern, with the feature set for 4:57 and the last race for 5:30.
After Sunday, Keeneland goes dark for two days before the 17-day fall meet hits its exact midpoint Wednesday.
Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Hazards of Love (Last 3 Beyers: 95-89-92)
◗ Finishing third or better in this 70th career start would push his bankroll past the $500,000 mark, and no doubt he has earned every penny through 24 wins, 18 seconds, and 11 thirds; was a winner for this same condition here in the spring as a 3-5 favorite.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Hazards of Love. Trainer Chris Richard is 23-3-2-4 with a $0.80 ROI over past five years in dirt routes in the first start following a trainer switch. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Eagle (Last 3 Beyers: 81-72-93)
◗ One of two 3-year-olds (with King of New York) in the lineup, this Candy Ride colt stands to benefit in a big way from his last start, a Sept. 12 sprint in which he was making his first appearance in nearly eight months; a couple of his races at 2 were quite encouraging.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Eagle. Trainer Neil Howard is 52-4-5-6 with a $0.28 ROI over the past five years in dirt routes with 3-year-olds facing elders. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Jack Tripp (Last 3 Beyers: 83-51-73)
◗ Dale Romans trainee finally broke out with an overdue victory when taking first-level allowance rivals gate-to-wire last month; looms a factor from an outer post as Miguel Mena gets the mount with Lanerie opting for Hazards of Love.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Jack Tripp. Trainer Dale Romans is 28-8-2-2 with a $3.43 ROI over the past year in dirt routes in Kentucky with 3-year-olds facing elders. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Zambian Dream (Last 2 Beyers: 85-86)
◗ He’s clearly the unknown of the group, having never raced on turf; makes his third North American start since shipping from Chile into the care of Todd Pletcher.