Jonathan Nance was in Kentucky at Keeneland, looking for new racing prospects today at the Keeneland January Sale as his current string of horses were shattering records at Portland Meadows. Nance saddled six winners on the nine race program. The six wins marks a new record for training wins in a day.
“I expected to have a good day,” said Nance. “To be honest, I’m kind of bummed Ice Cube didn’t win in the fifth,” said Nance referring to his runner who was flying late and finished second in that day’s fifth race.
The afternoon started off innocently enough as Nance swept the early daily double with a pair of big favorites, Justice For Al in the first and Polo Bender winning the second. Polo Bender’s win was the 16th of his fantastic career. The third race Nance saddled Incredible who got a very heady ride by Troy Stillwell and stayed just in behind a speedy duel up front. Incredible took the lead turning for home and won at 2 to 1.
Oddly enough, the day’s fourth race was won by Felice the Cat, who had been in Nance’s barn until very recently when he sold the mare to Shawna Whiteside. Nance ran second in the fifth race with Ice Cube who was closing fast.
Then the sixth race came and Nance got hot again. Luis Torres kept Delaware Doe off the pace and made a wide sweeping move to take the day’s sixth race in impressive fashion. Torres and Nance then once again teamed up in the seventh race to win with Summer Beauty who was shipping up from Golden Gate Fields.
Nance’s final entrant came in the form of Coronas At Delmar who Nance claimed in his last start for $2,500 and jumped up to $6,250 today. With Torres aboard for his third straight winner, Coronas At Delmar took command at the eighth pole and never looked back, winning impressively and giving Nance his sixth winner of the day. Coronas at Delmar is owned by Shelly Nance, Jonathan’s wife, who was at the track representing the Nance family in Jonathan’s absence.
“I thought we’d have a good day,” said Shelly Nance. “But I didn’t think he’d win six, it was very exciting!”
All told Nance used four different riders and won for four different sets of ownership groups. Nance will return from the Keeneland sale on Sunday