Page 165 - July 2022

“Being able to come back and ride Danjer, it was kind of a relief.”
Danjer scored his first victory of 2022 in this event and logged his 16th overall win in 28 starts. Twelve of those wins have come at the 440-yard distance. The $161,838 payout from this event increased his total bankroll to $1,665,813.
Francisco Calderon rode Danjer in Smith’s absence, and the decorated gelding struggled to a distant finish in the Leo Stakes in April.
“To me it was just bad circumstances,” Smith said. “It’s horse racing. Not every trip’s going to be the trip you want.
“I will say, he’s a World Champion, he’s won all the Grade 1’s, he’s made a million dollar but he’s not an easy horse to ride,” Smith added of Danjer. “You’ve got to feel him out and figure him out.
“I had 50 people tell me, hey, he missed you and all that. I don’t know. I think Francisco is a great rider. I don’t think it was about the riders, it was a bad circumstance.”
That said, familiarity between the jockey and the horse definitely helped in this one. Danjer broke on top from the No. 4 gate and led at every call of the 440 yards, gaining additional separation with every stride to post a 1 3/4-length margin as he reached the wire.
Dean Frey home-bred and trains Danjer, and co-owns the world champ with Downtine Enterprises LLC and Billy G. Smith.
“When he left the gate tonight, he was gone Johnson!” Frey said in a press release after the race.
“I haven’t rode him since last year,” Smith added. “Not that you forget what it’s like.
“I’ve had almost 11,000 official races and he’s by far the fastest horse I’ve ever been on.” Frey bred Danjer out of Shez Jess Toxic, a
2009 mare and fellow multiple stakes winner who logged five total victories and more than $235,000 in prize money.
Midday News (FDD Dynasty-Summer Love Song), who went off at 46-1 odds at
post time, finished a surprising second for
the partnership of Linda Joiner, Pat Smith, Izora Southway, Holly King and Kelly Allen. Michael Joiner is the trainer and Raul Ramirez Jr. did the riding.
Jess My Hocks (Kiss My Hocks-Jess Charlena), who came off consecutive wins in the Leo Stakes and Bank of America Challenge Championship-G2, finished third by a head. The gelding is owned by Tom and Kathleen McNally. A Michelle Hurdle trainee, Jess My Hocks had Mario Delgado aboard.
The remaining order of finish was Flash Bak (Moonin The Eagle-Checknbac), followed by last year’s All American Derby winner Instygator (Ivory James-Eye Popping), Candy Blood (Apollitical Blood-Ranch Candy), O Donovan Rossa (Apollitical Jess-Shanachee) and Big Eagle Gone (One Fabulous Eagle-And Poof Shes Gone).
RACING NEWS
Danjer’s winning connections include owners Billy Smith, Downtime Enterprises LLC & Dean Frey, who is also the breeder and trainer and jockey Cody Smith.
Owner/trainer/breeder Dean Frey celebrating with Danjer after their victory.
SPEEDHORSE July 2022 163
Linda Earley, Speedhorse Linda Earley, Speedhorse