Mongolian Saturday on fence for Turf Dash

OLDSMAR, Fla. – A globetrotting star could be coming to Tampa Bay Downs for the $100,000 Turf Dash, a five-furlong turf sprint for 4-year-olds and up Jan. 9. Mongolian Saturday, who won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at 15-1 on Oct. 31 at Keeneland, was among 29 nominees to the Turf Dash, and if he works well this weekend, he likely will show up, according to his connections.

Mongolian Saturday, owned by the Mongolian Stable and trained by Enebish Ganbat, most recently was fifth behind Peniaphobia in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin on Dec. 13. He had finished in the money in 11 consecutive races prior to going overseas, including second-place finishes in the Grade 3 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland in October and the Grade 3 Turf Monster Handicap at Parx in September.

Santiago Aragon, Ganbat’s assistant trainer, said Mongolian Saturday recently returned to Gulfstream Park and has a workout scheduled for this weekend that will determine whether he travels to Tampa.

“The horse came back looking really good and is training good, but it all depends on how he works,” Aragon said. “If he works great, then most likely we’ll go.”

Aragon said the major goal for Mongolian Saturday early in 2016 is the $1 million, Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint, a turf dash at about five furlongs on the Dubai World Cup card at Meydan on March 26. The horse is likely to make one start before then. After the trip to Dubai, Mongolian Saturday will be given three months off and then will gear up for the Breeders’ Cup, Aragon said.

Mongolian Saturday, a gelding by Any Given Saturday, made 11 starts as a 5-year-old this year, winning three times. He’s competed at 14 racetracks during his 32-race career, with seven victories and $1.04 million in earnings, but has never been to Tampa.

Among the other top horses nominated to the Turf Dash are Richies Sweetheart, Bold Thunder, Ancil, and Fast Flying Rumor.

Richies Sweetheart would be facing males after winning the $80,000 Lightning City Stakes against females here Dec. 19 for trainer Larry Rivelli. It was her third stakes win of the season, following scores in the $200,000 Turf Amazon Handicap at Parx in September and the $78,900 Brandywine Stakes at Indiana Grand in July.

“We’ll enter the race for sure and see what it looks like,” Rivelli said. “She came out of the race really well. If [Mongolian Saturday] runs, then I won’t run, but I don’t think he’s going to run because he just got back from Hong Kong.”

Bold Thunder won the 2015 Turf Dash in a course-record time of 54.63 seconds, and Ancil won the event in 2014.

Fast Flying Rumor scored a 17-1 upset in the $56,400 Select Stakes at Monmouth Park in June before coming down with a case of the thumps, or spasms of the diaphragm similar to hiccups that are usually caused by dehydration and low levels of electrolytes such as blood calcium. He returned to win the local prep for the Turf Dash, an optional $100,000 claimer here Dec. 11, for trainer Gerald Bennett.

Gallardo dominating standings

Jockey Antonio Gallardo won four races on a card for the fifth time at this meet Sunday, giving him 30 victories for the meet. He holds a wide lead in the standings ahead of Jose Ferrer (12 wins) in second and Daniel Centeno (11) in third. Gallardo is gunning for his third straight riding title here and has won the last two riding titles at Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania.

Gallardo is winning with an outstanding 32 percent of his mounts at this meet, with 56 percent finishing in the money. His $376,393 in mount earnings at this meet is well clear of Centeno ($173,749) in second.

Gallardo set a Tampa record during the 2014-15 meet with 147 victories. He’s won 317 races this year to rank second in North America behind Javier Castellano (339).

On Sunday, Gallardo won back-to-back races for trainer Jamie Ness, including a half-length score aboard 4-5 favorite Indy Breeze in a second-level optional $32,000 claiming sprint for fillies and mares.

Ness won with both of his starters Sunday after going winless with five starters on Saturday. Ness, who has won or tied for the training title at the past nine Tampa meets, has won 10 of 33 starts at this meet to lead the standings. Gerald Bennett is second with nine wins from 35 starts. Ness has won 232 races this year to rank fourth among trainers in North America, trailing Karl Broberg (419), Todd Pletcher (266), and Steve Asmussen (252).

Ferrer won two races each on Saturday and Sunday to give him 3,994 for his career. The 51-year-old native of Puerto Rico ranks 68th all time in Thoroughbred riding victories in North America.