Mighty Heart jockey Fukumoto out at least two weeks
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Jockey agent Pram Seebah has reported that Mighty Heart’s talented young rider Daisuke Fukumoto is sidelined after suffering a concussion from going down in a spill last Thursday.
“He stayed in the hospital overnight, and I brought him back home Friday,” Seebah said. “He has a concussion. Right now, it’s not easy to say exactly how much time he’s going to be taking off, but it looks like a minimum of two weeks. After that, we need to get medical clearance from a doctor from the trauma department. He’s in very good spirits.”
Fukumoto rode 2020 Canadian Horse of the Year Mighty Heart to victory in the July 1 Dominion Day Stakes.
Seebah is also the agent for Ademar Santos, who has gotten off to a decent start here after time away from Woodbine.
:: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures
“He already has nine winners, seven at Woodbine and two at Fort Erie,” Seebah said. “We’re trying to ride both tracks.”
Drunk Dial looks to rebound
Drunk Dial will try to rebound off a poor showing as the favorite in the Star Shoot Stakes in Thursday’s feature, a first-level allowance going six furlongs for 3-year-old fillies.
Drunk Dial won easily when debuting in a six-furlong maiden special Nov. 7. She went straight to the front and drew off in the stretch for a 5 1/2-length score, while getting an 80 Beyer Speed Figure.
Drunk Dial acted up in the paddock prior to her season opener in the June 19 Star Shoot, in which she got fried in a speed duel and faded to seventh.
Luis Contreras will ride Drunk Dial again for LNJ Foxwoods and trainer Josie Carroll.
Hazelbrook is the only other entrant with a 70-plus Beyer on her resume. She was a distant third in Drunk Dial’s graduation, and then earned her diploma after a three-wide stalking trip in her season debut in a six-furlong maiden special, when she earned a 76 Beyer in her second start.
Jason Hoyte will get a leg up from trainer Lorne Richards on Hazelbrook, who is owned by True North Stable.
Trainer Mark Casse sends out Pledge and Salty as Can Be, who’s adding Lasix off an extended layoff, which began after she bombed in an Oct. 25 stakes at Churchill. Pledge graduated with a 69 Beyer on Jan. 2 at Turfway, where she ended up fifth most recently in the Feb. 26 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes.
Trainer Mike Trombetta entered shippers Chargina and Imagery, who are both making their first start on a synthetic surface. Chargina rallied for second in her local debut in a non-winners-of-two turf sprint combining Ontario-sired allowance types with $40,000 claimers.
◗ Thursday’s card will feature a mandatory payout in the Jackpot Power Pick 6. The wager starts with a $171,620 carryover on Thursday.
◗ Post time has been rolled back to 1:10 p.m. for racing on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Friday post time remains at 4:50 p.m.