Jockey Celebration Day Benefits Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund

BALTIMORE, MD., 04/04/15 – On the short end of photo-finish win pictures in his last two starts, James Wolf’s River Rush broke through with a commanding front-running victory in Saturday’s featured eighth race at Pimlico. 

The 6-year-old son of Orientate was pressured into the stretch run in the $42,000 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance race before drawing off to register an 8 ¼-length victory under Roimes Chirinos. The Kieron Magee trainee broke from the rail post position on his way to making amends for his recent narrow defeats, including a recent loss by a neck last time out at Laurel.  

“We loved the horse going into the race. Last time, he drew the outside hole and got carried wide. In the one hole, he saved the ground,” Magee said. “We made the decision this morning to put him on the lead and see what happened.” 

River Rush withstood pressure from Going to Market around the first turn, along the backstretch and around the far turn before asserting himself with a devastating stretch run. Sent to post at 7-2, River Rush ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.66 to register his second victory in five starts since being claimed by his current connections on Nov. 20 

“We claimed him a few months ago for $15,000, and it’s been fun. Hopefully, it’s not over,” Magee said. 

Golden Glint and Trevor McCarthy closed to finish second, 1½ lengths ahead of Monkey’s Medal and Sheldon Russell. 

CELEBRATING JOCKEYS FOR PDJF

Saturday was Jockey Celebration Day – a tribute to Pimlico’s riders for the benefit of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Fans had a chance to win one of three Jockey Fan Packs that included a photo with the winning jockey in the winner’s circle, a commemorative photo frame and a $50 betting voucher. Autographed photos of the leading jockeys were available for a $10 donation. PDJF wristbands were also available for a donation.

A Jockey Rody Pony Race was held on the turf course after the fourth race with fans making minimum $5 donation bets on the winner. Those who placed their donations on apprentice Harry Hernandez received signed PDJF caps. 

Aboard Rody Alexandra, Hernandez bounced his way aboard the inflated facsimile of a horse to a front-running victory over several more experienced riders. 

“It went wonderful. My horse was 50-1. I thought I had no shot, but my horse, I think ran good,” said Hernandez, getting in the spirit of the exhibition. “I thought Trevor and Sheldon had the best horses, but we did it.” 

The jockeys assembled in the winner’s circle to accept a $2500 donation to the PDJF from the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. 

Saturday’s program included others special promotions, including “Preakness Meet at Pimlico” T-shirt giveaway and 3-Buck Cup giveaways.  The Pimlico souvenir 3-Buck Cup may be brought back from April 6 through June 6 (excluding Black-Eyed Susan Day and Preakness Day) for the purchase of $3 drafts. 

In observation of Easter, there is no live racing scheduled for Sunday. Live racing will resume at Pimlico on Thursday. The return of grass racing is scheduled for Thursday, when four of the eight races are slated to be run over the turf course, including a $42,000 first-level allowance in the featured seventh race.

Rainbow 6 Carryover: $7,195