By Dick Jerardi
It was a day late (thank you Debby) and more than an hour from original post times, but when they finally ran all those stakes races Sunday at Colonial Downs, the Butch Reid barn was front and center with a win in a $100,000 race honoring Secretariat’s owner Penny Chenery and a solid third in the Grade II $500,000 Beverly D. from two overachieving fillies who cost a combined $69,000 at the sales and have now combined to earn $908,050.
Pennsylvania bred Carmelina was winning her fourth stakes at three tracks (Colonial twice, Laurel Park, Penn National). She has been in nothing but stakes since winning her debut June 18 at Parx. She has now earned $343,100 for Chuck Zacney’s Cash is King and Glenn Bennett’s LC Racing after being purchased for just $44,000.
In The Penny Chenery, 7-5 favorite Carmelina, away on top and given a typically aggressive and smart ride by Parx’s leading jockey Mychel Sanchez, was clear at the eighth pole and had just enough to hold off 3-1 Cap Classique (husband/wife jockey/trainer team of Sheldon Russell/Brittany Russell) by a neck in the 7-furlong race. The final time (1:21.09) reflected the lighting speed of the dirt surface.
“From when we got her as a 2-year-old, she always showed a lot of ability,” Sanchez said in an interview with Kaitlin Free after the race. “The main thing is, don’t get in her way. Those strong horses, they really train themselves.”
Carmelina has now started 10 times on dirt with five wins and two seconds. In dirt sprints, she has only been worse than second twice.
“When she broke running (Sanchez) did exactly the right thing, let her roll,” Reid said. “Funny part was we beat that same filly before only Sheldon Russell was on mine last time and he beat his wife’s horse…She’s not the most talented filly ever, but she’s all grit and heart.”
Pa. Bred Neecie Marie was in a much tougher spot than her stablemate. Sent off at 7-1 behind the two favorites, 2022 Canadian Horse of the Year Moira and 2023 Canadian H/Y and defending Beverly D. champ Fev Rover, Neecie Marie came on late to be third behind Moira and Fev Rover, beaten by just 1 3/4 lengths. She has now started 10 times on grass with four wins, three seconds and a third, including a Grade III win, a second in a Grade I, two seconds and a third in Grade II races and a third in another Grade III.
Neecie Marie cost $25,000 and has now earned $564,950 for Mike Milam. She has been entered in the Night of the Stars sale in early November in Kentucky.
Neecie was ridden for the first time by the racing legend Frankie Dettori. He gave the filly early cover and a good chance. She just did not have quite enough acceleration to keep up with the top two in the stretch of the 1 3/16-mile grass race.
“Frankie said he thought he had it turning for home, but she’s kind of a grinder,” Reid said.
Reid was thrilled Dettori kept riding the filly for third.
“A lot of those guys won’t do that for you,” Reid said. “What a good guy, just a regular guy.”
Dettori told Reid, “run her as long as you want; she galloped out past the field.”
All in all, a pretty good Sunday for the Reid barn, now getting all their horses ready for the Parx return on August 19, Smarty Jones Day, Pa. Day at the Races and Pennsylvania Derby Day.
