Keeneland: Difficult week for the Jones family

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Cindy Jones is recuperating in a Hot Springs, Ark., hotel after suffering multiple injuries when working with a yearling last weekend on the seven-acre farm that she and her husband, trainer Larry Jones, own near Oaklawn Park.

“She broke three ribs, broke her arm, and dislocated her shoulder,” said Larry Jones, who is here with Havre de Grace, the 2011 Horse of the Year. Regarding his wife, a longtime integral part of the family training operation, Jones added with a big smile: “Other than that, she’s just fine. She’s out of the hospital already and will probably come home pretty soon to our cabin in Henderson [Ky.].”

Larry Jones said he was approached by Keeneland personnel about having Havre de Grace parade before the crowd between races Sunday. “We’re happy to do it,” he said. “I want the folks at Oaklawn to know we’re here and not there.”

Jones is upset about the 123 pounds that Havre de Grace was assigned for Friday’s Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park, a race she is skipping. “We want to campaign her, and we will do so all over the country this year,” he said. “But we’re not going to do it at an unfair disadvantage.”

Jones said Havre de Grace will have two works at Churchill Downs, the first coming next week, before making her next start in the La Troienne on the May 4 Kentucky Oaks undercard.

Meanwhile, Jones said he has been allotted 32 stalls for the upcoming spring meet at Churchill, where he will race primarily until the meet ends July 1. “We’ll keep our overflow here at Keeneland, mostly 2-year-olds,” he said. Jones has been based at Delaware Park in recent summers.

The time of Havre de Grace being paraded Sunday has yet to be announced. The Sunday feature is the Grade 2, $150,000 Beaumont Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.