Trainer's second starter becomes first winner

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – One never knows when a person’s greatest ambition will be fulfilled at the racetrack. It happened in the first race Sunday at Churchill for Josue Irizarry when he sent out a filly named Miss Altamira to win a maiden-claiming race, giving the trainer his first win with just his second career starter.

“I’m very, very happy,” Irizarry said early Monday from the Thoroughbred training center in Lexington, Ky., where he has Miss Altamira and one other horse in training.

“Churchill Downs, for me, is a great, great track,” he said. “This was my dream, to win as a trainer. I am very thankful to many people for helping me with this victory.” He also credited owner Roberto Sanson.

Irizarry, a 36-year-old native of Puerto Rico, said he came to Kentucky about three years ago to work as a stablehand for Wesley Ward before working at several Lexington-area farms, most notably a two-year stint at Juddmonte Farms, and for trainer Mike Maker.

Irizarry said he bought three horses last week at the Keeneland yearling sales and hopes to perhaps soon move his growing stable to Churchill or Trackside.

Rivers Run Deep in for tag

Rivers Run Deep, the standout Ohio-bred with more than $1.16 million in career earnings, will be in for a rare claiming tag when Thursday’s card leads off the final week of the meet.

Trained by Chris Hartman, Rivers Run Deep is the morning-line second-choice behind Dazzling Gem in the third of eight Thursday races, a $62,000 third-level allowance with an $80,000 claiming option. All but two of the seven starters in the 6 1/2-furlong race are in for the tag.

Two other allowances (races 4 and 7) also are part of a solid card that starts at 5 p.m. Eastern.

Cox fillies flourishing

Brad Cox surged to prominence in recent years mostly by winning with older horses, but his reputation is taking a hit these days. All of Cox’s meet-leading five winners have been 2- or 3-year-old fillies, including four first-time starters.

Cox’s latest win barrage came with Take Charge Angel (Saturday maiden), Mylady Curlin (Saturday allowance), and Sun Studio (Sunday maiden), giving him a one-win lead over Tom Amoss and Ian Wilkes atop the trainer standings.

Among jockeys, Corey Lanerie leads Julien Leparoux 11-10 into the final week.

Bolt d’Oro a recent arrival

Bolt d’Oro, unraced since finishing 11th in the Met Mile in early June, has joined the Steve Asmussen string at Churchill after having breezed twice earlier this month on the Saratoga training track. Owner Mick Ruis turned over Bolt d’Oro to Asmussen this summer, and the 3-year-old colt’s next start has yet to be determined.