LAUREL, Md.--Rodney Jenkins saddled Hillwood Stable LLC's Friend Me Charlie to win a $36,050,, 5 1/2 furlong Allowance race for fillies and mares 4 years and up by a head at Laurel on Feb. 15.
Rodney Jenkins in his career as a top grand prix jumping riderFriend Me Charlie has now won two races with two thirds from six starts and earnings of $58,939 having run three times in 2019 and twice so far this year.
"She's a nice, big filly," said Jenkins. "She's just coming back. The first time we ran her, she bled badly. She almost bled out, but she won in spite of bleeding. We're running her on Lasix now, and as long as we give her at least a month between races she seems to be okay."
Jenkins was a top grand prix jumping rider before turning to training race horses.
During his riding career, Jenkins won virtually every big prize available, including riding in 16 Nations Cup competitions, and he was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 1999.
Jenkins also saddled Mrs. Ellen Charles' Willwood Stable's Valued Notion to win a $33,000, 6 furlong Waiver Maiden Claiming race by 2 1/4 lengths at Laurel on Feb. 4 in his third start.
"Now he's won his first race for us, Mrs. Charles will probably run him again until he has run through his conditions," said Jenkins.
Willwood Stable also claimed Silver Sides for $5,000 on Feb. 6 in Jenkins' name as trainer.
"That mare is of her breeding," said Jenkins. "That's why she claimed her."
Jenkins said that Covid 19 hasn't affected him too much.
"It hurts, of course," said Jenkins. "But it really hasn't cut back much on racing in Maryland. But you worry about the grooms. They mingle too much."
GRAHAM MOTION saddled Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Duchess of Sussex to win a $23,750. 1 1/16 mile Allowance turf race at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 6.
Duchess of Sussex broke sharply to go straight to the lead and led throughout to increase her lead in the stretch and win by 1 1/4 lengths.
Motion also saddled Sam-Son Farm's Thru the Vine to win a $14,350. 1 mile and 40 yards Maiden Claiming race at Tampa on Feb. 7.
Thru the Vine ran second until moving into the lead in the stretch and extending it to win by 4 1/2 lengths.
BERNIE HOUGHTON as trainer won a $15,400, 6 furlong Claiming race with Ed Madden's homebred My Devils Child.
My Devils Child ran second, advanced two wide into the stretch and went on to win by 3/4 length.
