Missing Sefa to steer clear of claiming conditions

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Owner and trainer Jamie Grubbs scratched the 13-year-old Missing Sefa from a $5,000 claiming race Wednesday at Churchill Downs after reading on social media that the mare would be claimed on the premise that she needed to be rescued.

Grubbs said a Facebook funding campaign was started by a Thoroughbred retirement organization, but after Grubbs contacted the person responsible, the campaign was stopped.

“I still didn’t want to take a chance on her getting claimed by another outlet,” said Grubbs, who has owned and trained Missing Sefa since claiming her as a 2-year-old in December 2004. “This mare is like family. She definitely wants to run.”

Grubbs said she will seek starter-allowance conditions at the upcoming Turfway Park meet to ensure that she doesn’t lose Missing Sefa to a claim.

◗ If it weren’t for the winter meet straight ahead at his beloved Oaklawn Park, trainer Ron Moquett might just want November to continue forever. It’s been a memorable month for Moquett, and it continued early this week when he went 2 for 2 at Mahoning Valley, including a victory by Heykittykittykitty in a $75,000 stakes. After Busby Alley survived a stewards’ inquiry in winning the first race Wednesday at Churchill, Moquett was 9 for 20 this month, including a win by Gentlemen’s Bet in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel and first-out scores by the 2-year-olds Whitmore and Piracy.