‘Memorable day at the office' for Brian Hernandez Jr.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A vivid illustration of racing’s highs and lows was seen Saturday at Churchill Downs when jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. and trainer Bret Calhoun teamed to upset the Grade 2 Pocahontas Stakes with Patrona Margarita.

Only an hour earlier, Hernandez had everyone holding their collective breath as he lay motionless on the track. Hernandez had flipped over the front of his mount, Ivy Bell, in midstretch of the Open Mind Stakes after the filly stumbled badly when crowded into the rail by the eventual first-place finisher, Mayla.

Thankfully, Hernandez was up on his feet in 60 seconds or so and walked back to the paddock runway, assuring all that he was fine. In the meantime, the Churchill stewards were conducting an inquiry that ultimately found Mayla, trained by Calhoun, guilty of interference. Grace’s Treasure was kissed in as the official winner.

Fast forward to the Pocahontas, which Patrona Margarita won at 23-1 after finishing third versus fellow Texas-breds in her previous start eight weeks before.

“That was a memorable day at the office,” said Hernandez, who had three other winners on the 11-race card.

“You hate to think back on what the day could have been with two stakes victories,” Calhoun said. “I’m just so thankful Brian was okay. We ended things on a high note, but this was quite the roller coaster day.”

Ivy Bell, the 7-10 favorite for trainer Billy Denzik, also escaped injury, owner Brook Smith said Sunday.

“Brian had a ton of horse and was blasting up the rail to the winner’s circle,” Smith said. “Our first concern was for Brian, then for the filly. Fortunately she’s miraculously unscathed.”

The incident resulted in Gabriel Saez, Mayla’s jockey, being suspended for three racing days. The penalty starts Saturday, although agent Derek Ducoing said Monday it had not yet been determined whether an appeal would be filed.

A head-on replay of the incident was not shown on television monitors, in accordance with Churchill policy that withholds replays of falls in which horses or jockeys can suffer potential serious injury.

The head-on replay also was withheld in regard to an incident in which Ricardo Santana Jr. was thrown from his mount, Meistermind, in the first race Saturday. Meistermind, a 2-year-old half-brother to 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, was racing erratically behind the pack in his career debut when Santana came off. Santana took off the rest of his mounts on the day with a sore knee, but was back Sunday to ride four races.

Smith said Ivy Bell could make her next start at Keeneland in the Oct. 7 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes, a Win and You’re In event for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Calhoun is pointing his stable star Finley’sluckycharm to the TCA.

Gun Runner back to work

Gun Runner was sent through his first breeze since his 10-length romp in the Sept. 2 Woodward Stakes, going an easy half-mile Sunday at Churchill in 49.60 seconds. From Churchill clocker John Nichols, splits over a fast track were 13 and 25, with a five-furlong gallop-out time of 1:03.40.

Gun Runner will have one more breeze before being flown Monday to Southern California. The 4-year-old colt will train at Santa Anita before moving over to Del Mar for the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Reinforcements for McPeek

Although he was somewhat disappointed with third-place finishes from Ten City in the Iroquois and Sunny Skies in the Pocahontas, trainer Kenny McPeek enjoyed a productive Saturday when Stronger Than Ever and Princess Warrior both closed stoutly to win their career debuts at six furlongs.

Coincidentally, both are 2-year-old fillies who carried saddle towel No. 3 and prevailed at 6-1 odds. Princess Warrior, by Midshipman, got easily the higher Beyer Speed Figure (86).

Romans nears the top

A debut victory Sunday by Promises Fulfilled gave Dale Romans his 700th victory at Churchill and drew him within one of tying Bill Mott for most wins by a trainer in track history.

Although Mott maintains a string here while based primarily in New York, Romans has far greater local numbers and eventually can be expected to become the all-time Churchill leader – if not by the end of this meet (Oct. 1), surely at the fall meet. Romans has just one entry here Thursday and none Friday.

Big field for Dogwood

A large field of 3-year-old fillies is expected Saturday night for the $100,000 Dogwood Stakes.

Among those expected for the seven-furlong Dogwood are Covenant, Jordan’s Henny, No More Babies, and Student Body. Entries were to be drawn Wednesday for an 11-race card that also will include the Grade 1 President of the United Arab Emirates Cup for Arabians.

◗ Forever Unbridled, who runs next in the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, had her first breeze since her victory in the Aug. 26 Personal Ensign, going a half-mile here Saturday in 49.20 seconds.

◗ Rayan Gazader is now a journeyman after losing his apprentice allowance between back-to-back victories Friday aboard longshots Pocketfullofgreen and Grats Road.