ELMONT, N.Y.--Jonathan Sheppard saddled JR Stables' New York homebred Everyonelovesjames to win a $70,000 Allowance race at Belmont Park on June 29.
Jonathon SheppardThe 4-year-old chestnut gelding, by Freud out of a Lemon Drop Kid mare, had quite an adventurous trip, but prevailed to win by 2 lengths.
Everyoneloves james bobbled at the break of the 1 1/16mile turf race, brushing with Gambler's Fallacy, who eventually finished second.
Despite jockey Eric Cancel's restraint, Everyonelovesjames pulled his way to the front and led the way just off the inside rail under a firm hold, got out three or four paths wide at the half mile pole and into the turn, with Cancel nearly standing in the saddle applying a hard hold to stay three wide as Cloontia, who eventually finished third, slipped though on the inside to gain the lead.
Cancel appeared to have an issue with the reins nearing the quarter pole, gathering them up and bunching them as Everyonelovesjames floated five wide, taking back the lead and driving to the finish with good courage for the win.
Cancel then needed the assistance of an outrider to pull up after the finish.
"WE HAVEN'T had Everyonelovesjames for long." said Sheppard. "He was with a trainer in Florida, and a girl who used to work for me called me to say this was a New York-bred and he should be running in new York, and would I take him, so, of course, I said yes."
"He's two for two now," said Sheppard."The jockey who rode him in his first race had to go out of town to ride a stakes horse. This jockey wasn't quite as strong."
"He's fine to train in the morning, but he gets strong in the afternoon," said Sheppard. "Maybe we'll have to put different equipment on him. He's a little quirky, but he's okay. We'll take him to Saratoga.'
Sheppard next won the second race at Presque Isle on July 2 with Steve Pazzoglia's homebred Paolia's Heart by Orientate out of a Yankee Mon mare.
Paolia's Heart won a $30,000 Pa-bred maiden race for fillies and mares 3 years old and up.
"Steve lives in Western Pennsylvania, so he was there, and I'm sure he was thrilled," said Sheppard."
GRAHAM MOTION won the $100,000 Zadracarta Stakes with Sam-Son Farm's Canadian-bred Desert Isle on June 29.
Desert Isle, by Bernardini out of a Smart Strike mare, won the 7 furlong turf race by 3/4 of alength.
Motion also saddled Augustine Stable's Tula, bred by George Strawbridge, to win a $32,000, 1 mile and 70 yards Allowance race at Presque Isle on June 26.
Motion then saddled two winners at Laurel, Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd.'sTorres Del Paine in a $40.000. 5 1/2 furlong Maiden Special Weight on June 28, and Staghawk Stables' Nakamura in a $42,0001 1/16 mile turf Allowance raceon June 30.
Michael Matz saddled Edith R. Dixon's Raining Lemons to win a $38,000, 1 mile and 70 yars Allowance race for fillies and mare 3 years old and up at Delaware Park on June 24.
Raining Lemons, by Lemon Drop Kid out of a Hennessy mare, got up after a long drive to win by a neck.
Ricky Hendriks saddledDebra E. Kachel's Nevisian Spirit to win a $15,400, 1 mile and 70 yards turf Claiming race at Penn National on June 28.
Nevisian Spirit, by Congrats out of a Forestry mare, won going away by 3/4 of a length.
Also on June 28 at Penn national, Bernie Houghton saddled David Charlon''s homebred Dilly Dilly Philly to win a $31,000, 6 furlong race for Pa-bred fillies and mares 3 years old an up.
Dilly Dilly Philly, by Jump Start out of a Congress mare, won by 5 lengths.
Michael Dickinson saddled Monticule LLC's homebred The Keeper to win a $40,000, 1 1/2 mile Maiden Special Weight turf race at Laurel on June 30.
The Keeper, by Temple City out of a Nureyev mare, narrowly prevailed to win by a head.
