Early Return Takes Sunday Feature Via DQ; Ramseys Win 300

Nov 14, 2010 Gary Yunt

Richard, Bertram and Elaine Klein’s Early Return was awarded the victory via disqualification of Tend in Sunday’s $54,663 feature for 3-year-olds and up at Churchill Downs.

 Early Return, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, and Tend moved together after Guam Typhoon in the upper stretch when Perry Ouzts, riding Tend, inadvertently struck Early Return with his whip causing Early Return to briefly check.

 Tend went on to finish three-quarters of a length in front of Early Return, but Bridgmohan immediately claimed foul and the claim was upheld by the stewards. Time for the 6 ½ furlongs on a fast main track was 1:16.90.

 Trained by Steve Margolis, Early Return improved his record to 17-5-4-4 and boosted his bankroll to $184,806 with Sunday’s $33,600 check. Early Return is a 5-year-old homebred gelding by Carson City out of the Mystery Storm mare Swept Away.

 Early Return rewarded his backers with mutuels of $9.40, $5.60 and $4. Tend returned $8.40 and $5 with River Bear finishing a half-length back in third under Danush Sukie and paying $9.60 to show.

 In Sunday’s final race, Glory Chaser prevailed under Julien Leparoux to give owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey their 300th victory at Churchill Downs. The Ramseys have won 16 leading owner meet titles in their run to becoming the all-time leading owners in victories at Churchill Downs.

 The second half of the 21-day Fall Meet kicks off Wednesday with a 10-race program that begins at 12:40 p.m. (ET).

-- END --