Here’s something you don’t see
everyday: a trainer saddling the first winner of his career in one race
and coming back two races later to win his second.
That’s the way things happened
for 21-year-old trainer Joe Griffitt at Arlington Park
on Friday. The young native of Lexington, Kentucky, celebrated his first
win in Friday’s first race with Scott Easterling’s Honored View, but before he
had a chance to come down from that high he won Friday’s third race with a
horse named High, somewhat prophetically owned by the You Never Know Stable of
Stephen Soulis.
“The whole day turned out to
be kind of surreal,” said Griffitt during training hours Saturday morning
shortly before returning to Lexington.
“I felt both horses had turned a corner recently, and both had been training
really nice lately. To tell you the truth, I almost expected the first
horse to win, but the second, I thought she might like the Polytrack up here
but I didn’t know she’d like it that much. I’m still like ‘Wow!’ about that
race.
“I also got the benefit of two
incredibly good rides,” said Griffitt with a salute to Junior Alvarado aboard
Honored View and Florent Geroux who was up on High. “Honored View was
actually the first starter of my career when I saddled her at Turfway last
December. She finished second that day and she’ll always be my favorite
horse. Animal Kingdom could suddenly show up in my barn tomorrow but
she’d still be my favorite horse.
“I’m especially happy for her
owner,” Griffitt said, speaking of Easterling. “Scott has been a family
friend for a long time and he’s actually the guy who pushed me into getting my
trainer’s license by fronting me the money I needed to get started. As
for Stephen Soulis, I’m friends with his son Nick who I met through the University of Louisville equine program. I’m
very grateful to my owners who have been more than patient with me. Also,
up at Arlington
I’m especially grateful to Lisa Merritt who has been super helpful to me with
my horses.
“But one of the best things
about yesterday happened when I went to a little sports bar across the street
after the races,” Griffitt said. “There were a lot of people from the
racetrack in there and it seemed like everybody in there was pointing at me and
nodding to each other.
“For a minute they all had me
thinking I’d done something bad,” Griffitt said, “but then they all started
coming up to me and congratulating me. That was great. I couldn’t
have written a book about how the day went and made it turn out any
better. Maybe now what happened yesterday will help people open their
eyes and think about sending me their horses. I only have five horses
right now but I want to expand. What I really want is a barnful of ‘em,
but even with the ones I’ve got, I’ll be back at Arlington soon.”
JUNIOR, E.T. TIED ATOP ARLINGTON JOCKEY STANDINGS THROUGH FRIDAY
Jockey Junior Alvarado, Arlington’s riding
champion two years ago and runner-up last season, had a riding triple Friday to
move into a tie for the lead with E. T. Baird, who posted a riding double on
the same program.
Alvarado won the opener with
Scott Easterling’s Honored View for new conditioner Joseph Griffitt, the fourth
with William Stiritz’s Cap’n Nick for trainer Scott Becker and the fifth with
Richard Ravin’s Top Surprize for leading trainer Larry Rivelli.
Baird won Friday’s late daily
double, taking the eighth with Jason Horner and Mike Wiengarten’s Love This
Kitten for Rivelli and the finale with Kathy Halleran’ Sunshine Express for
trainer Jimmy DiVito.
Jockey Tim Thornton also had a
riding double Friday, and conditioners Rivelli, Griffitt and Becker all ended
the afternoon with training doubles.
TRAINER OWEN RAINWATER DIES AT 75
Word has been received of the
death of longtime southern Illinois-based trainer Owen Rainwater, who died
earlier this week at age 75 following an extended illness.
Rainwater was credited with
155 lifetime wins from about 1,400 starters since 1977 and saddled three
winners from 45 starters at Arlington
last season.