Camacho Guides Call the Bullpen to $100,000 Miss Gracie Win

Perfectly Timed Ride from Journeyman Battling for Leading Jockey

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Not looking the least bit rusty after being away for two weeks, Samy Camacho kept himself squarely in the conversation for leading rider at Gulfstream Park’s Royal Palm Meet with a Saturday hat trick highlighted by a perfectly timed victory aboard Call the Bullpen in the $100,000 Miss Gracie.

Facing stakes company for the first time in her 12th career start, Bell Racing’s Call the Bullpen ($7) reeled in even-money favorite Laigina through the stretch to get up by a half-length in the Miss Gracie for 3-year-old fillies going two turns over a firm turf course. The winning time was 1:34.12.

It was the sixth stakes win of the Royal Palm Meet for Camacho, who closed the gap to 81-79 behind Diego Herrera in the jockey standings. Herrera had mounts Friday and Saturday at Del Mar including British Isles in the Pacific Classic (G1) and returns Sunday, when both he and Camacho are named in eight of nine races.

“Thank God for all my winners,” Camacho said. The 37-year-old Venezuelan has won two or more races 20 times during the Royal Palm Meet including 11 days with three or more but had not ridden since winning twice Aug. 8. The summer meet wraps up Aug. 31.

“I’m fighting for the title, but I had like 12 days suspension and that cost me a lot,” he said. “I keep trying. We’re two behind and we’ve got five days left, so we’ll see what happens. It’s going to be exciting.”

Laigina, beaten less than two lengths in three prior turf stakes, was sent to the front by jockey J.G. Torrealba, leading through a quarter-mile in 24.42 seconds and a half in 48.36 with 25-1 longshot Bert’s Knoty Girl raced two wide in second and Camacho settled nicely saving ground in third along the rail.

Keeping his eye closely on the favored front-runner, Camacho gave Call the Bullpen her cue leaving the far turn and they split horses and set their sights on Laigina, coming with a steady run on her outside to get up at the wire.

“It looked like [Laigina] was going to be in front so my thing was to just try to stay close and that’s what I did. I saved ground all the way and was patient, just waiting for [Torrealba to] move,” Camacho said. “Right after his move, I made my move, too. My filly responded with a lot of run and she won really good.

It was 6 ¼ lengths back to Bert’s Knoty in third, followed by Bayou Brigid, Sorokin, Del Mar Sunrise and Turkish Flame. Curly Sue was scratched.

“From the gate I put her right next behind [Laigina] because I think she’s the horse to beat,” Camacho said. “I follow her, follow her, follow her and when I got the chance to make a run, I did, and she responded really good. She had a lot of kick at the end.”