Photo: Hollywood Park
All was quiet at Mike Mitchell’s barn Sunday morning after an
emotion-charged score by Camp Victory in Saturday’s Grade I, $250,000
Triple Bend Handicap.
Phil D’Amato, Mitchell’s longtime assistant trainer, said the Forest
Camp gelding returned in fine order. According to D’Amato, Camp
Victory was feeling so good that he tried to kick him. “It was a fairy
tale ending,” said the 35-year-old assistant. “I talked to Mike last
night and he was just thrilled. He said it was supposed to be quiet
time in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit), but they were going crazy and rooting. Everyone wanted to know what was going on”
Second-place finisher The Factor also came back well, according to
Bob Baffert’s assistant trainer Mike Marlow. “I thought he ran great,’’
said Marlow. “He put away the other speed and was running strongly at
the end. He came back good and sound.”
Jeranimo, explosive winner of the Grade I, $300,000 Shoemaker Mile,
emerged from the race “really good,” according to Miguel Gonzalez, who
saddled the 6-year-old in place of trainer Mike Pender, who is
vacationing in Europe with his wife.
Tammy Fox, wife of trainer Dale Romans, said Little Mike, who
finished third as the favorite in the Shoemaker, was fine Sunday. “He
ran hard and those were two good horses who beat him,” observed Fox.
“He’s leaving for Kentucky at 1 a.m. Tuesday morning.”