Jockey Lebron back from hiatus

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jockey Victor Lebron returned Sunday at Churchill following a seven-week hiatus in preparation for what he and agent Nelson Arroyo hope will be a productive summer at Ellis Park.

Lebron had not ridden since May 2 at Tampa Bay Downs. A motorcycle aficionado, he has been busy setting up a vehicle-repair and sales business in the Tampa area, according to Arroyo.

“He’s all set up with it now,” said Arroyo. “He and his family have moved back here to Louisville, and he’s ready to get back to riding.”

Lebron, a 30-year-old native of the Virgin Islands, topped the Ellis standings in 2008 and has been the leading jockey at Indiana Grand and Turfway Park.

◗ Brad Cox said he and owner Steve Landers have been fielding inquiries about a colt named Twirling Cinnamon, the winner of what shaped up as a deep 2-year-old maiden race here last Friday.

“People have asked about buying him, but unless it’s crazy-crazy money, he’s staying in the barn,” said Cox. “He came out of the race in great shape, and we’ve got a couple of possible spots picked out for him.”

Cox said one of those is the Grade 3 Sanford on the opening Saturday, July 25, at Saratoga, where Cox will be taking about 15 horses.

Twirling Cinnamon, from the first crop of Twirling Candy, earned a 67 Beyer Speed Figure in rallying to win by a nose over Metal Magic. It was another 6 1/2 lengths back to the third finisher.

◗ Entries were to be drawn Wednesday for an 11-race Downs After Dark card that ends the meet Saturday night. The Grade 2, $200,000 Firecracker is one of four stakes on a program that starts at 6 p.m. Eastern. The other Saturday stakes are the Bashford Manor and Debutante, both six-furlong races for 2-year-olds, and the Kelly’s Landing for 3-year-olds and up at seven furlongs.

Unlike in prior years, the meet will not end on a Sunday afternoon but with the Saturday night program.

◗ Churchill-based Channel Marker, the upset winner of the Grade 3 Jaipur on the June 6 Belmont Stakes undercard, will make his next start in the $100,000 Troy Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong turf race Aug. 22 at Saratoga, trainer Phil Bauer said this week.