Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Hardworking Hartman wins 3
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – You might have thought trainer Chris Hartman had a perfect day by going 3 for 3 on Wednesday at Keeneland, but nope. At the same time, Hartman was going 0 for 3 at Indiana Grand, throwing a tiny wet blanket over an otherwise glorious afternoon.
“Plus, I should’ve killed ’em at the windows at Keeneland,” Hartman lamented. “I just couldn’t put anything together the right way.”
The vast majority of Thoroughbred trainers put an absurd amount of time into their jobs, and Hartman, 45, is no exception. His Wednesday itinerary included earlymorning training at his main Churchill Downs barn, followed by two separate trips to the Fasig-Tipton yearling sales in Lexington – where he bought three horses for clients – sandwiched around his three Keeneland winners.
Combined with all the driving involved, there was precious little time for handicapping, which Hartman enjoys immensely.
“To really do it right, you’ve got to have the time,” he said. “I just had too many irons in the fire.”
By early Thursday, Hartman was tackling the next few dozen tasks on his plate, including entering a couple of 2-year-olds for the Sunday opener of the 21-day Churchill fall meet. Clearly, Hartman is hoping his momentum carries over from Keeneland, where his Wednesday hat trick consisted of Shesomajestic ($7.40), Gettysburg ($5.20), and Baladeen ($7.80).
“I’ve had three five-win days in my career – two at Sunland Park and one at Prairie Meadows,” said Hartman, who has saddled more than 1,300 winners in nearly 26 years as a trainer. “But this was my first three-win day in Kentucky since we moved here [in April 2015]. It was pretty awesome.”
With nearly 50 horses spread among four stabling grounds, Hartman doesn’t have the numbers to threaten the likes of Steve Asmussen, Brad Cox, Mike Maker, or Dale Romans for leading trainer at the fall meet. But he’s among the innumerable local conditioners who have shown themselves capable of sending out a winner at a moment’s notice.
“That’s what we do, get them ready,” he said. “Right now, I’m trying to liven them back up and get them breathing fire for Churchill.”
Hernandez to winter in Florida
Brian Hernandez Jr., who has become a perennial top-five rider on the Kentucky circuit, is making a major change in his winter schedule. Hernandez will ride at the Gulfstream Park championship meet, which starts Dec. 1, forgoing his annual pilgrimage to Fair Grounds in his native Louisiana.
“A lot of our top outfits are headed to Florida, so we thought we’d give it a shot,” said Hernandez’s longtime agent, Frank Bernis, referring to trainers such as Kenny McPeek, Rusty Arnold, and Ian Wilkes.
Hernandez, who turns 33 on Breeders’ Cup Saturday, was born in Lafayette, La., and began his career in his home state, winning the 2004 Eclipse Award for top apprentice. He has won more than 1,800 races, including the 2012 BC Classic on Fort Larned.
Interruption of Single 6
The Single 6 will be a 20-cent wager with a jackpot provision for most of the 21-day meet, but not for the two Breeders’ Cup days, when a regular $2 pick six will be in effect.
Unlike in recent years with the Kentucky Derby, when carryovers from the $2 pick six have been divvied up for ensuing Churchill cards, there will be a mandatory payout on Breeders’ Cup Saturday – regardless of whether or not a perfect ticket is sold – on the pick six, the pick five, and the super high five ending with the BC Classic.
The Single 6 carryover from Thursday will be paused until the next regular Churchill card on Sunday, Nov. 4.
◗ Jockey Chris Landeros has been suspended for three days by the Keeneland stewards for his role in the disqualification of Beach Flower from first to third in the Grade 3 Dowager last Sunday. Landeros will start serving the days on Breeders’ Cup Saturday and will be back riding Nov. 8.