Mandaloun has strong Foster work

Mandaloun continued his preparations for the Grade 2, $750,000 Stephen Foster on July 2 at Churchill Downs with a strong six-furlong breeze early Sunday morning. Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols caught the 4-year-old colt in 1:12.40. He galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25.80.

Mandaloun, promoted to victory in the 2021 Kentucky Derby on the disqualification of Medina Spirit, which is still under appeal, has been away from the races since finishing ninth in the Saudi Cup in February – after which his travel back to the United States was delayed. He made it back to the United States in late March, enjoyed a brief freshening at Juddmonte Farm in Kentucky, and returned to the work tab on May 8 at Churchill Downs.

“He’s been doing great training over this track, so it makes sense to target a race like the Foster that is at home,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We kept our options open, but this race you don’t have to ship and can run out of your own stall.”

Regular jockey Florent Geroux was in the irons for Sunday morning’s work after a troubled day of travel himself. Geroux was slated to ride Saturday’s card at Monmouth Park, but didn’t make it to the New Jersey track because of several travel delays. He caught an early flight back to Louisville to work Mandaloun when the track opened at 5:30 a.m.

Mandaloun will have one more easy breeze before the Foster, a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 5 at Keeneland. The Foster is one of six stakes on the card. Others include the Grade 2, $350,000 Fleur de Lis for fillies and mares and the $160,000 Kelly’s Landing for sprinters, both also on the main track.

The card also is scheduled to include three turf races – the Grade 2, $350,000 Wise Dan, the $200,000 American Derby, and the $200,000 Tepin. Churchill Downs announced June 11 that it had suspended turf racing for at least two weeks, with updates pending the condition of the course.

Bejarano reaches milestone

Rafael Bejarano recorded his 500th victory at Churchill Downs as he piloted the 2-yearold filly Just Cindy to a debut victory Friday.

Just Cindy earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 70 for her 2 1/4-length win going 5 1/2 furlongs. The filly, a Clarkland Farm homebred trained by Eddie Kenneally, is out of stakes winner Jenda’s Agenda. She became the third winner from the first crop of Triple Crown winner Justify.

Bejarano, who turns 40 on June 23, began riding in his native Peru in 1999, and Just Cindy was his 4,281st career winner. His career highlights include winning the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Distaff and eight other stakes races on champion Ginger Punch; winning the 2010 Kentucky Oaks aboard champion Blind Luck; the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on champion Intercontinental; and taking the 2013 and 2014 editions of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Goldencents.

Bejarano began riding at Churchill Downs in 2003 and won three local riding titles before moving his tack to California in 2008. He returned to the Kentucky circuit in 2020, and is now only the 15th rider in Churchill Downs records to register 500 victories at the track.

Bejarano joins Pat Day (2,482 Churchill Downs wins), Calvin Borel (1,232), Robby Albarado (1,192), Corey Lanerie (1,172), Julien Leparoux (1,002), Don Brumfield (925), Larry Melancon (914), Jim McKnight (883), Charlie Woods Jr. (757), Brian Hernandez Jr. (740), Shane Sellers (738), Shaun Bridgmohan (728), Julio Espinoza (642), and Jon Court (583).