Romantica set for Bewitch

Romantica, the runner-up to Dank in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf last fall in her only start in North America, heads a field of 12 fillies and mares entered in the Thursday feature at Keeneland, the Grade 3, $150,000 Bewitch Stakes.

Now trained by Bill Mott for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms, Romantica will be getting first-time Lasix after a series of nine workouts at Payson Park this winter, capped by a final blowout at Keeneland. The 5-year-old mare breezed a half-mile in 46.40 seconds Saturday in final preparation for the 1 1/2-mile Bewitch.

From the hedge, this is the Bewitch field:

Always Kitten, Left a Message, I Dazzle, Street of Gold, Stick to Your Guns, Viva Rafaela, Freedom Reigns, Angel Terrace, Romantica, Caroline Thomas, Aigue Marine, and Inimitable Romanee.

The Bewitch, the eighth of nine Thursday races, is the twin-sister race to the closing-day feature, the Grade 2, $200,000 Dixiana Elkhorn on Friday.

◗ As truly remarkable as the 2013 spring meet was for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker, that’s about how poorly the 2014 spring meet has gone for them. Into the final three-day stretch, the Ramseys’ record stands at 2 for 32, while Maker’s is 3 for 44.
Last spring, they crushed the single-meet Keeneland records in their respective categories with 25 wins apiece.

◗ Trainer Mike Stidham has a potential new client for an owner: his older brother, Steve, a former track photographer at now-defunct Hollywood Park and other tracks.

Steve Stidham was on his way to New Orleans from Houston when he stopped overnight Friday at the L’Auberge Casino and Hotel in Baton Rouge, La. Early Saturday morning, he hit a slots jackpot for $548,784.

“He said he’s going to buy a horse now,” said Mike Stidham.

◗ Jockey Leandro Goncalves will be idle until opening night of Churchill, courtesy of the three-day suspension he was given by the stewards for his role in the disqualification of his mount, No Free Lunch, from second to seventh in the fifth race last Friday at Keeneland. The penalty runs through Friday.

Meanwhile, chief steward Barbara Borden said no penalty was meted out to jockey Alexander Reznikov for his ride on runner-up Large Scale in the second race the same day. Reznikov misjudged the finish line and stood up on his mount for several strides, but the error did not alter the placings.

◗ It didn’t take long at all for Danielle Gonzalez to get her first career victory as a trainer, as she won the Saturday nightcap with Cassie’s Harbor, a 16-1 shot, with just her second career starter.

– additional reporting by Jay Privman