Missing Sefa, 13, scratched from Wednesday race

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Missing Sefa will be scratched from the 10th race Wednesday, but the 13-year-old mare isn’t quite finished racing, said owner and trainer Jamie Grubbs.

“The race just came up too tough for her,” said Grubbs. “We’ll probably enter back for another race at the Churchill meet. Either way, I do intend to run her at Turfway this winter.”

During a remarkable 111-race career that began May 12, 2004, at Churchill, Missing Sefa has racked up 28 wins, 20 seconds, and 19 thirds. Grubbs claimed her in December 2004.

“She’s become a part of the family,” she said.

There is no age limit on horses racing in Kentucky, although entrants are subject to prerace veterinary inspections that draw particularly close scrutiny at an advanced age.

◗ Churchill is promoting a revised wager called the single six, a pick six wager modeled after similar jackpot wagers at Gulfstream Park and other tracks.

The 20-cent bet with a 15 percent takeout has been tweaked so that it isn’t weighted toward building a carryover. A single winner still sweeps the pool, but if there is no single winner, 90 percent of that day’s wagers is returned to bettors, assuming two or more winners. If there are no perfect tickets, there are no consolation payoffs, and 100 percent of that day’s wagers go to the jackpot.

The single six is held on the last six races each day. The carryover for Wednesday stands at $5,366.

◗ A solid 10-race card is on tap Wednesday, Veterans Day, at Churchill, with two allowances (races 4 and 9) on a program that starts at 12:40 p.m. Eastern. The ninth race is a $64,000, third-level turf race that drew an oversubscribed lineup of 3-year-olds and up, with Knights Nation, Flashlight, and Highball the main contenders.

◗ If the last race Sunday is any indication, horsemen must be stocking up for the winter. Four of the 11 starters were claimed for $10,000 apiece, keeping claims clerk Steve Penrod hopping until closing time.