Walsh finishes his weekend with a bang

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sending his loyal backers home with a smile Saturday night wasn’t enough for Brendan Walsh. The 48-year-old Irish native followed up with three more winners Sunday afternoon at Churchill Downs, vaulting him into second place in the local standings while furthering his stature as a highly capable trainer.

Walsh sent out the Irish-bred mare Mintd for a 12-1 upset of heavily favored Juliet Foxtrot in the Grade 3 Mint Julep under the lights Saturday night, then wheeled back the next day to win a $50,000 turf claimer with Blue Cat ($6.60), a first-level allowance with Gigi B. ($14), and the maiden-special nightcap with Business Model ($21).

The hot hand gives Walsh 15 wins from 48 starters at a 38-day meet that began April 24, just two wins behind the meet leader, Brad Cox. But that’s not all: Walsh was hoping the crack turf sprinter Extravagant Kid would follow up his victory in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai with another international score in the Group 1 King’s Stand when the Royal Ascot opened Tuesday in England, just as he hopes Maxfield continues surging toward the top of America’s older-horse division as a heavy favorite in the Grade 2, $600,000 Stephen Foster on Churchill’s closing day, June 26.

Because of pandemic-related quarantine restrictions, Walsh chose not to travel overseas for the King’s Stand, settling instead for watching it on television. Walsh will be staying put for the duration of this meet, joined by Maxfield, the 4-year-old Godolphin homebred who has been training steadily at Keeneland since earning a 105 Beyer Speed Figure in a 3 1/4-length romp in the Grade 2 Alysheba on the April 30 Kentucky Oaks undercard.

“I’m bringing him back here to Churchill to work this coming weekend,” said Walsh. “He’s doing great, doing super. All systems go.”

Nominations for all seven stakes to be run Foster Day were released Sunday. Among the other 19 older horses made eligible to the 1 1/8-mile Foster are By My Standards, Happy Saver, Mighty Heart, and Rushie.

The Grade 2 Fleur de Lis, the filly-mare counterpart to the Foster, also is set for closing day. Both are Win and You’re In events toward the Nov. 5-6 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar.

Meanwhile, Mintd earned a career-best 92 Beyer in her Mint Julep triumph under a terrific ride from Ricardo Santana Jr. Walsh said he has yet to think about the next start for the 5-year-old mare. As for La Signare, most recently second in the Grade 1 Gamely on May 31 at Santa Anita, “there’s no real plan yet, but we’re kicking around the idea of the Beverly D. or Diana,” said Walsh, adding that Zofelle, another of his standout turf mares, has been turned out since finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Just a Game on the June 5 Belmont Stakes undercard.

Gaffalione OK after spill

Tyler Gaffalione, once again the leading jockey at Churchill, escaped serious injury in the last race Sunday after being thrown from his mount, There Goes Harvard, when the 3-year-old colt stumbled about a furlong into the one-mile race on the main track.

After informing track personnel that he was experiencing pain in his left leg, Gaffalione was transported to nearby Audubon Hospital. He told track publicity Sunday night that he was only “a little banged up” after X-rays came back negative and that he intends to be back in action Thursday evening when racing resumes.

There Goes Harvard, trained by Michael McCarthy, was not injured, nor were any other jockeys or horses.

Gaffalione, a Florida native, was the leading jockey at all six major meets in Kentucky in 2020 – three at Churchill, two at Keeneland, and one at Kentucky Downs. He holds a commanding lead at the current meet with 37 wins.

Earlier Sunday, Gaffalione was involved in an incident that caused fellow jockey Corey Lanerie to be dislodged during the stretch run of the second race. Gaffalione’s mount, Runpat, suddenly swerved outward and into the path of My Miracle Man, causing that colt to stumble and Lanerie to lose his balance. Lanerie was on his feet within moments. Runpat, second under the wire, was disqualified and placed last.

Whether Gaffalione will be suspended by the Churchill stewards for his role in that spill was expected to be determined Thursday. Gaffalione once again intends to ride the entire meet at Saratoga, which starts July 15.

◗ Trainer Tommy Drury has decided that Art Collector will make his 4-year-old debut in the $110,000 Kelly’s Landing, to be run on the penultimate day of the meet, June 25. A romping winner of the Blue Grass Stakes last summer, the Bernardini colt is one of 22 nominees to the seven-furlong race.

Whitmore, who had been considered for the Kelly’s Landing, was not nominated, did not breeze over the weekend, and most likely won’t race again until the July 31 Vanderbilt at Saratoga.