Macho Again Upsets In Foster

Einstein never had much of a chance at history in the $660,000 Stephen Foster Handicap Saturday as he and jockey Julien Leparoux were repeatedly in need of racing room around the far turn and into the stretch. To watch the featured Churchill Downs race is to watch a lesson in trip handicapping but jockey Robby Albardo was there to capitalize with an upset victory aboard Macho Again. Asiatic Boy was second in a photo for place with Einstein who finished third under the highweight of 124 pounds. Macho Again was seven pounds lighter having been assigned 117 pounds by the track handicapper.

It was the third consecutive win in the Foster for Albarado and the victory pushed Macho Again's career earnings to $1,475,247 from six wins in 18 starts. Earlier this year, he won the grade 2 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds and last year won the grade 2 Jim Dandy as a 3-year-old. He was also second in the Preakness last year behind Big Brown.

The next start for Macho Again according to trainer Dallas Stewart will be the Whitney Handicap at Saratogo on August 8.

Watch the video of the Stephen Foster by clicking on the link to the right.

In an AP story about the Jockeys' Guild settling with former boss Wayne Gurtmenian, one line particularly caught my attention. "as part of the plan, the Guild has notified jockeys that it will no longer continue to provide health insurance because it was not economically feasible."

The Jockeys' Guild has had financial troubles dating back to at least 2005 and is currently going through bankruptcy proceeding in a effort to reoraganize financially. A Judge has approved a plan that will allow the Guild to emerge from bankruptcy. The Guild will still provide disability and life insurance and continue to be an advocate for jockeys on health and safety issues and has a membership of some 1,200 jockeys throughout North America.