Stanley Mankin, a breeder, owner, and trainer who competed on the Nebraska circuit and in recent times had been racing at Canterbury, died on Saturday, according to friends. He was 72.
Mankin died in Grand Island, Neb. His best runners included Skunktail, a popular Nebraska-bred stakes winner who won 20 races, and Wild Jacob, a multiple stakes winner bred in Maryland.
Mankin saddled his first winner on March 13, 1992, at Fonner Park.
When Karl Broberg asked C.J. McMahon if he would ride first call for his stable this meet at Lone Star Park, the 20-year-old jockey did not hesitate to join forces with the man who currently ranks as the leading trainer in wins in North America.
“I told him, ‘No problem,’ ” McMahon said. “It was a great opportunity. Those opportunities don’t always come along.”
A community-wide fund-raising effort during the Preakness meet at Pimlico helped raise more than $65,000 for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, according to the Maryland Jockey Club. Fund-raising events included Canter for the Cause, an All-Female Handicapper Challenge, the raffle of a John Deere Gator, and Karaoke for the Cause. In addition, Sagamore Racing donated $30,000 to the TAA.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ageless wonder Jon Court followed his 32-1 upset Saturday night aboard Frivolous in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis with a 10-1 triumph on Honey Lake in a 1 1/2-mile turf allowance on Sunday.
Frivolous and Honey Lake both are 5-year-old G. Watts Humphrey homebred mares trained by Humphrey’s daughter Vicki Oliver.
Court, 54, has won with 15 of 90 mounts at the spring meet, with his return on investment a lucrative $3.40 for every $2 win bet.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – All-sources handle for the 11-race Saturday night card was $8,089,559, up 14 percent from the corresponding program last year, when $7,084,280 was bet. Ontrack handle from the announced crowd of 28,986 was $1,450,970, up nearly 9 percent.
Boosted by the appearance of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, attendance for the night was the highest in the four years since the Stephen Foster was first run under the lights. The record for a night crowd here is 38,142, set on opening night of the 2011 spring meet.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Missing Sefa will make her 109th career start Thursday when she lines up against seven other fillies and mares in the fourth race at Churchill, and owner-trainer Jamie Grubbs said the 13-year-old mare will be very happy to do so.
“She loves what she does,” Grubbs said this week from her Belterra Park barn. “She loves training and being at the track and all the attention she gets. We’ll stop on her as soon as she says she’s ready, but so far, that day hasn’t come.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Highs and lows are to be expected in racing, but what Norman Casse went through in less than 24 hours last weekend was excessive.
Casse suffered a staggering blow with the loss of Danzig Moon, who was euthanized Sunday at Woodbine after breaking down in the Plate Trial. As the son and assistant of trainer Mark Casse, Norman Casse had spent the most time around the colt this winter and spring in Florida and Kentucky.
“We’ve had horses get hurt and break down,” Casse said Tuesday at Churchill Downs, “but not one like this.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – Stellar Wind, fourth in the Kentucky Oaks, is expected to start favored Saturday in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks. Her confirmed rivals include Tara’s Tango, stretching out from a good sprint, and the Southwest-based Scat Means Go, third last out in the Grade 3 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs.
Henry Dominguez trains Scat Means Go, who arrived in California on Sunday and is being handled by local trainer Caesar Dominguez, Henry’s brother.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Even trainer Richard Mandella was fooled by Bal a Bali, the South American star who finished last of five in the Shoemaker Mile here last Saturday. Early this week, Mandella did not have a concrete alibi. “No good excuse,” he said.
Bal a Bali had trained sensationally after a sharp U.S. debut, a win in the May 9 American Stakes, his 12th victory from 13 starts. In the Shoemaker post parade, no horse looked better than Bal a Bali, whose perfect trip positioned third behind the pacesetter went unrewarded. He was flat late.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The improving California-bred stakes winner Motown Men has joined the small field expected for the 1 1/4-mile, Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 27.
“That’s where we’re pointing if all goes well,” trainer Ted H. West said.
Motown Men, claimed four starts back for $40,000 and a stakes winner last out, worked six furlongs Sunday in 1:11.40 and finished with a rush, the final eighth in 11.40 seconds on West’s watch.
