Greetings Race Fans,
Mary Jeans Wildcat ran at Hawthorne Racecourse in Chicago on October 27, and must have felt like the Chicago Cubs after being battered by the Cleveland Indians in game #1 of the World Series.
Carlos Montalvo, Rusty Hellman and Mike Moore wait for MJ’s arrival in the paddock.
Our filly broke slowly with jockey Carlos Montalvo in the driver’s seat and the pair were at the back of the pack early in the seven-horse field. After the first quarter mile Montalvo and MJ were a whopping 22 lengths behind the leaders. They remained last until the final turn for home when MJ made a mild bid to make up ground, passing #7 Wild Swing and #4 Plays In Peoria, finishing 5th by 15 3/4 lengths. Speed burner and odds on favorite #3 Five Star Nap, went from gate to wire for the victory in a very quick 1:10.98 for six furlongs.
Montalvo himself must have been napping, as he let the field get away from MJ early. After the race MJ galloped out strongly and was a handful to shut down. That indicates her tank was not empty and Montalvo should have given her much more urging during the race.
Our Wildcat filly did face a fast and salty field, but we feel that MJ could have finished in 3rd or 4th position with a stronger ride. Connections have already mapped out a jockey change and a slight drop in class for her next race.
We need to begin building her confidence against a field where she can be more competitive, and find a jockey who will be awake in the stirrups and not “asleep at the wheel.”
Wager Well,
Mike
Michael Moore
Managing Partner
(618) 616-4038 mobile
mike@saddlebackstables.com
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