Hunter O'Riley likely sidelined until fall

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – On Sunday morning, trainer Jimmy Toner and owner Sean Shay visited their Grade 1 winner Hunter O’ Riley at the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Saratoga. Hunter O’ Riley is there due to a leg infection that will force him to miss Saturday’s Bowling Green Stakes, a race he won in 2017.

Late Sunday afternoon, Toner and Shay were in the Saratoga winner’s circle after Mominou pulled off a 29-1 upset in the $200,000 Caress Stakes.

“I’m really happy for this guy,” Toner said Monday of Shay. “We spent the morning visiting Hunter and then for that filly to come back and run like that, it was really great.”

Noting that Mominou runs well with ample time between races, Toner seemed unlikely to wheel her back in the $100,000 Smart N Fancy here Aug 17.

Mominou’s upset came one month after Hunter O’Riley upset the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park at 14-1. Toner was hoping to run Hunter O’Riley in the Bowling Green and Sword Dancer, on Aug. 24, but will now likely have to wait until Belmont in the fall to run him again.