August 21 will always hold a warm spot in the heart of Brendan Galvin. That was the day that the County Kerry native scored his first victory as a trainer, which came in Sunday's sixth race at Golden Gate Fields in just his second start. Galvin, 45, sent out Pat O'Sullivan's Chattel House, an Irish-bred filly to get the job done against maiden claimers at the $20,000 level running a mile over the turf. She closed determinedly under Cristobal Herrera to get up by a head. The win price was $11.60.
A jumping double at Saratoga provided the stage for two Cork jockeys to shine on Thursday. Darren Nagle, from Scarteen in Mallow, piloted Parker's Project to a 5-length upset win in the first race over favored Port Morsbey, ridden by Brian Crowley. The latter avenged that injustice in the second race, when he got Italian Wedding up by a length to pay $6.30. Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard trains both winners, as well as Port Morsbey.
When an 11-year-old gelding is running as well as is Ed Chmyzinski's Suave Charmer, you've got to figure there's some decent horsemanship behind the scenes. In this case, that would be Cork native Michael Collins. Suave Charmer won his second race of the year in the fourth race at Suffolk Downs on Tuesday, laying off the early pace under Jackie Davis to advance around the far turn and draw off in the lane to score by three lengths. Suave Charmer now has 16 wins from 101 career outings and paid a $7.00 win mutuel in handling this crew of $4,000 platers that hadn't won twice in the previous six months.
Collins and Davis also teamed to win Saturday's eighth race, a second-level allowance route, at Suffolk with Vincent DeCarlo's Mopleasant. The 3-year-old filly rallied for a 2-length victory that yielded a $5.80 win mutuel. She's now won three of five starts since coming under Collins' care.
Edward and Theresa DeNike's Bailouttheminister made his first start for Pat Gallagher in Del Mar's seventh race on Thursday and met his connections in the winner's circle after rallying to score by one and one-half lengths in this first-level allowance race on the lawn for statebreds. Joel Rosario had the seat on the 3-year-old gelding, which paid a munificent $18.20 to win. Gallagher was 0-for-14 at the meet going into the race.
John Haran's Darland found the winner's circle in her third career try in the curtain raiser at Hoosier Park on Wednesday. The 4-year-old filly, sent out by Arthur Antrim, had been away from the races for nine months, which must have done her some good. She stalked under Leandro Goncalves before asserting herself in the stretch, where she drew off to win by four lengths. She paid $9.40 to win.
On Saturday, Haran saddled Priceless Shore to victory in the sixth race at Arlington. The 2-year-old colt, making just his third career start, opened up a 3-length lead turning for home under Brandon Meier and lasted to win by one-half length. He faced maidens at the $25,000 claiming plateau. The win price came back $7.40.
Jockey James Graham won three races on Arlington's Saturday card. He got started with a frontrunning victory on Wildcat Miss ($8.20 to win) in the first race. Two races later, he rallied aboard Volturi ($5.80), with the third win coming in the seventh race aboard Wicked Uno ($9.60), which led every step of the way. Graham, with 56 victories, currently is second in the Arlington jockey standings. He trails Jozbin Santana by two wins.
