Diane Nelson is now one win away from 1,000 victories in her career after she guided Of All the Nerve to a three-quarter length victory over Irish Oz in the third race at Aqueduct yesterday.
A native of Long Island, Nelson began her career in 1986 at Rockingham Park. After winning five riding titles at Rockingham, she started riding at The Meadowlands. In 1990, she switched her tack to ride full time on the NYRA circuit and has remained since. She is the elder stateswoman of the riding colony this winter.
Funeral services will be held Monday morning for Angelo Lombardo, who ran the barber shop at Aqueduct and Belmont for 42 years. Mr. Lombardo passed away Thursday at the age of 85 following a lengthy illness.
Al Dellape, jockey agent for Heberto Castillo Jr., was fined $200 for failure to honor first call on Three Day Jack in yesterday’s fourth race.
2ND RACE — Keep Dancing wanted to keep running early but was caught behind pacesetters River Tower and My Captive Heart. Jockey Joe Bravo had a hard hold on Keep Dancing and checked repeatedly from the clubhourse turn to the far turn until he finally angled Keep Dancing outside to make a four wide move to the lead. In the stretch, Keep Dancing had the lead but couldn’t hold off Prideful, who was making a strong run on the outside. Prideful pulled away to a three length victory while Keep Dancing was an easy second.
5TH RACE — Oscar Chavez won his first U.S. race in his sixth start with a nifty ride on Carlos Martin’s first time starter Stately Blues. He rated off the pace while saving ground in fifth and then angled outside for the stretch run. He split horses in midstretch and caught Travel With Class at the wire. Chavez, a native of Panama, began his career in 1991 and then went to Singapore in 1993. He returned to Panama in 1994 but then went back to Singapore in 1995. He became the leading rider at Singapore but wanted to fulfill his dream of riding in the U.S. He rode his first race Sunday, finishing third on Virginia Malone’s first time starter Belmont Hill. He is represented by Brian Morgan.
6TH RACE — Southern Sandra was sent off the 9-5 second choice and got the pace scenario she wanted. Doc Calls Her Kate battled with favored Rainbow Pride early, and in the stretch Rainbow Pride started to drop back. Doc Calls Her Kate started to pull away from the field. Southern Sandra was outside on the turn while fourth, and in the stretch she did not change leads. Jockey Mike Luzzi was working hard on Southern Sandra to get her to switch leads in the stretch. Luzzi finally jerked Southern Sandra’s head hard and it forced her to change leads. Southern Sandra then put in a strong run in the stretch, closed powerfully toward Doc Calls Her Kate but ran out of track and finished a neck behind. Light Snack, who was expected to contest the early pace, was bothered at the start by Southern Sandra and was last. She angled inside and chased the pace before tiring badly.
9TH RACE — Shesbig saved ground and attempted to run inside battling pacesetters Smarty, Follow My Shadow and Cleocatra. But Aaron Gryder pulled back on her and then angled her outside to make a four wide move to the lead. She had the lead in the stretch and then was all out to hold off the fast closing Appealing Sunday for the victory.
YESTERDAY’S CLAIMS
1ST: Mountain Hideaway ($25,000) by Gary Gullo
9TH: Shesbig ($18,000) by Faustino Ramos; Hay Lo Blase ($18,000) by Bob Barbara
PICK SIX
Winning numbers: 5-7-2-5-7-7
No winners
10 consolation (5 of 6) winners
each receives $805
Carryover: $24,175.68.
