Riley J, a three-year-old filly, displayed her potential in a maiden special weight race on Saturday, January 18, 2024.
Trained by David Powell and ridden by Jerome Innis, Riley J crossed the finish line first, winning by a length over Wayne'sCherryLinks and Hansa in the six-furlong race, which had an official time of 1:15.2.
However, her victory was not to last. The Race Day Stewards disqualified Riley J, moving her from first to third place for causing interference during the race. This decision allowed Wayne'sCherryLinks to take first place and Hansa to move up to second.
Despite the disqualification, trainer Powell expressed optimism about Riley J’s future.
"She did well today," he said. "The last time she ran, she had problems, so we put her on Lasix, and she ran a much better race." He explained that Riley J previously experienced bleeding but has shown improvement since. "She's much better now than before," he noted.
As the Classic races approach, Powell is hopeful for Riley J. "I think she will improve and be able to get a distance of ground," he said.
Powell is also preparing two other horses for the upcoming Classic challenges. Total Velocity has raced once, and the other horse is still in training and expected to compete later in the year.
