A Day of Triumph for Cincinnati Bengals Fans: Horse Racing Edition
December 21st was a memorable day for fans of the Cincinnati Bengals. Just hours after the Bengals secured a 45-21 victory over the Miami Dolphins, the city's attention shifted to Turfway Park in Florence for the Synthetic Championships. It was here that the 4-year-old gelding, Joe Shiesty, named after Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, emerged victorious in the $247,835 Holiday Cheer Stakes. This win was particularly emotional for trainer Eric Foster, who co-owns Joe Shiesty with Lonnie Reynolds, Vicki Mills, and Donald Coomes through his Foster Family Racing stable.
Joe Shiesty's journey to success hasn't always been easy. After winning the Mighty Beau Stakes at Churchill Downs in June, he faced challenges in his subsequent three starts, including gate issues at Ellis Park and Keeneland, and a rough trip at Churchill Downs. However, on Sunday, he broke cleanly from the gate and soared through fractions of :22.37 and :45.18 under the guidance of Fernando De La Cruz. His Florida-based opponent, Howard Wolowitz, couldn't keep up, finishing second.
Joe Shiesty maintained his lead by a head in 1:09.05, paying $21.08 to win. Script finished third. Bred in Kentucky by Rodney Orr, Joe Shiesty was purchased for $16,000 as a short yearling at the 2022 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. Trainer Foster expressed confidence in his purchase, stating that Joe Shiesty lived up to the potential they had envisioned.
This victory marked Joe Shiesty's third in stakes company, improving his career record to 6-2-2 from 17 starts and earning him $745,217 in total.
In other racing news, Mink's Palace provided a gift for Summerhill Stables in the Holiday Inaugural Stakes. Trained by Eddie Kenneally and ridden by Walter Rodriguez, Mink's Palace rallied from last place to win the $250,000 race. Despite a strong pace set by Ms. Tart, Mink's Palace finished in 1:09.48, pulling clear to a 2 1/4-length win.
Summerhill Stables, owned by Jo Leone for about six decades, has focused on raising horses for others. One of their longtime clients, Ty Scheumann, who died in 2022, entrusted Leone with Fortune Pending, the third dam of Mink's Palace. This win is even more remarkable considering Summerhill typically only breeds about two mares a year for themselves.
An emotional Cary Simon, Leone's daughter, expressed her gratitude for Mink's Palace's success. She highlighted the small operation's dedication to raising horses for others and the impact of this win on their livelihood.
The race also had a dramatic twist when the originally scheduled rider, Edgar Morales, was involved in a spill two races earlier. Morales was transported to a local hospital for x-rays, and his mount, Classic Legacy, was caught by outriders and walked off.
