King's review: Eriugena rolls on dirt

Sunday, May 11 review

Eriugena has found a new home on the main track. An Irish-bred son of Shirocco, he is bred top and bottom for the grass, but dirt racing is his calling. Sunday he won his second straight dirt race, romping to a 4 3/-length victory in the ninth race.

Sunday’s victory came at 1 1/8 miles, and judging by how he finished and his stamina-geared European pedigree, longer dirt races may suit him even better.

He ran a 94 Beyer Speed Figure, hinting that in the right spot he could challenge in a stakes race, particularly if he continues to improve.

Regardless, he has already paid for himself for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who claimed him for $25,000 at Saratoga last August. Since that time he’s won 4 of 7 for them and trainer Mike Maker. He is also eligible for the $20,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at Gulfstream Park later in the year.

In other action on the day, jockey Joe Johnson won a pair of races, and neither came for his chief backer, Gary “Red Dog” Hartlage. Instead the wins came for another old hardboot, trainer Jinks Fires. They teamed to win two claiming races, the second with Clever Royal and the seventh with Great Call.

Johnson hasn’t ridden all too much for Fires, but with Jon Court – Fires’s son-in-law and the barn’s regular rider – missing the meet with a broken hand, Johnson gained some mounts with the stable.

Also worthy of note from Sunday was how fast the fifth race was. A maiden race for 3-year-olds and up, it was won by Florida Won, who raced a mile on good turf in 1:36.25, faster than Avanzare ran in taking a second-level allowance two races later in 1:37.12. Florida Won earned an 88 Beyer, a very nice figure for a 3-year-old on the grass.

Horse to Watch

Afleet Moss
Trainer: Mike Maker
Last race: May 11, 5th
Finish: 3rd by 2
Beyer: 84

Debuting in a salty maiden race, this one showed a high degree of speed and looked like he might carry it the whole way before being run down in the lane and losing by a couple lengths. It was a fine effort, and the Beyer he earned, an 84, would be good enough to win many maiden races on the grass.