Castrenze now a wiser rider

A year ago this Saturday, apprentice rider Ashley Castrenze won at Tampa Bay Downs with her first mount. On Friday, in the seventh race at Laurel Park, she will restart her career following a sixmonth injury-related layoff.

Few apprentices begin their journey like Castrenze. Tom Proctor put her on two winners at Tampa to start out last April. She then came north and won two races at Penn National for trainer Mark Reid in mid-May. After finishing third in a race at Monmouth Park, Castrenze won twice on the openingday card at Delaware Park to improve her record to six wins from seven rides.

“The fast start was good because it got my name out there, but it hurt me a little, too,” Castrenze said. “I started my bug year sooner than I was really ready. I didn’t know what I was doing out there, and I made some mistakes, and that got some people mad.”

But Castrenze persevered and finished ninth in the Delaware Park standings with 29 wins from 209 mounts. In total, she has 47 wins from 329 mounts, a win average of 14 percent.

“I struggled a little at the beginning of Delaware, but then something kind of clicked, and I think I made a lot of progress,” Castrenze said. “I began feeling stronger on a horse, and more comfortable, and more confident.”

But on Oct. 16, the day after Delaware closed, Castrenze’s mount in the seventh race at Laurel broke down nearing the top of the stretch in a turf race. Two other horses went down in the spill, and Castrenze broke four ribs on her left side.

“The ribs gave me trouble for a while,” Castrenze said. “I kept going to doctors thinking they would clear me to ride, and they kept saying, ‘Give it another month.’ ”

Castrenze, 20, has patiently prepared for her comeback. She has received an extension on her apprenticeship that will carry her through the end of the year.

“I’m ready,” she said. “I’ve been working horses since the last week in January – first at Parx, Pimlico, and Laurel, and lately at Fair Hill a lot. I’ve been working with a personal trainer, and I feel really good. I feel strong.”

Castrenze has worked horses for Kieron Magee and will ride Minor Legend for him Friday. She said she also has been getting on horses for Reid, Kate Demasi, Graham Motion, Hamilton Smith, and Mike Trombetta.

Castrenze’s agent is Mark Mace. Their plan is to ride at Laurel, Parx, and Penn National and then be based at Delaware Park when the meet begins June 3. Their goal is to be one of the leading riders at Delaware this summer.

“There’s also the Eclipse Award if we can get going good,” Castrenze said. “I still have more than seven months with the bug.”

Pick-five carryover at Laurel

A Friday Laurel Park latepick-five carryover is always a good way to ease into the weekend, and even though it is a modest $3,213, the 12 percent takeout still makes the wager worthwhile.

Also, the return of turf racing last week at Laurel has given field size a much-needed boost, opening the door for improved multiple-race payouts. There are four grass races on Friday’s nine-race card, all of which are part of a 20-cent Rainbow 6 that has a carryover of $6,640.

The rolling Super Hi 5 has a carryover of $7,053 after the $1 wager was not hit on Sunday’s nine-race card. A race needs to have at least seven starters to offer a Super Hi 5, which is exactly the number of entrants in each of the first three races. Check for scratches Friday morning on Laurel’s DRF.com entry page.

The four turf races are races 4,6, 8, and 9. They could have 11, 9, 10, and 12 starters.

Here are a few thoughts on the late pick five:

◗ Race 5: Honor the Fleet will be favored in this first-level optional $50,000 claimer at a mile on the main track based on the 80 Beyer Speed Figure he earned in his maiden win, but there are others here with a chance.

Hamilton Smith claimed Coach Pat for $25,000 out of a 7 1/4-length debut win from New York owner Michael Dubb. Coach Pat has worked twice since then, and his potential is difficult to judge.

Gold Braid is in for the $50,000 optional tag after winning an allowance at Penn National for Hugh McMahon, who has won with five of his last nine starters through Tuesday.

◗ Race 6: This second-level optional claimer at a mile on turf could come down to likely favorite Freudie Ann and Janine Melnitz.

Freudie Ann, trained by Tom Morley, enters off two optionalclaiming wins at Fair Grounds, where she was in for the $80,000 claiming tag. Janine Melnitz, who races for Tres Abbott, was a close second for $30,000 last time out at Gulfstream Park.

◗ Race 7: This first-level allowance for Maryland-bred or Maryland-sired runners could go a number of ways, but it should be noted that Minor Legend defeated The Pulse last time out, and that runner came back to win a first-level optional-claiming race with a Beyer Speed Figure of 82.

◗ Race 8: Zinger chased Mr. Misunderstood in two blowout wins at Fair Grounds. Mr. Misunderstood has won four of his last five starts dating to October. Zinger’s trainer, Larry Jones, is 6 for 12 in the MidAtlantic since shipping north from Fair Grounds.

◗ Race 9: If Rosie Ridge draws in from the also-eligibles, she should win this $16,000 maiden claimer for Mike Trombetta. If not, be prepared to spread wide.