Guidry Thrives in Kentucky

Since leaving California for Kentucky, jockey Mark Guidry has been on a roll.

Guidry, who rode Buzzards Bay to an upset win in the Santa Anita Derby before he left, begins the new week at Churchill Downs fourth in the standings with 19 victories. However, he is tops in winning percentage at 26%.

Especially effective on horses trained by Dale Romans, who leads the standings in Louisville with 16 wins from 52 starters, Guidry is named on four horses on today’s card.

He will ride probable favorite Amber Jule in the second, maiden Goodoldsouthernboy in the third, longshot Dread in the fifth and contender Grand in the seventh.

A 5-year-old Jules mare, Amber Jule will make her second start for trainer Jeff Talley, who saddled a longshot winner ridden by Guidry on Sunday. She broke her maiden by 6 1/2 lengths in her first start at Churchill on May 4.

Goodoldsouthernboy should improve in his second race after a long layoff, Dread is in a claiming contest for the first time after getting blitzed in his first two starts, and Grand is dropping out of a Grade III into a $30,000 claimer for his first start in more than a year for Romans.

Race of the day: Lifestyle, who won the first two starts of his career by a combined 23 1/4 lengths before losing two in a row, will make his first start since Nov. 17 in today’s seventh at Hollywood Park.

Alex Solis is scheduled to ride the 5-year-old Indian Charlie horse for co-owner and trainer Wesley Ward in the $51,000 allowance at seven furlongs.

Imitation, Spellbinder, Tiz Only Money, Chaseur and Saint Buddy will provide the opposition for Lifestyle.

One for the road: Questioning was a good second against open company in his debut at Tampa Bay Downs on April 25 and should improve with a race under his belt and a drop-in with New York-breds in today’s fourth at Belmont Park.

Cornelio Velasquez will ride the 3-year-old Skip Away gelding for owner-trainer Roy Lerman in the $42,000 race at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Looking Forward, Angel Trick, T’s Cafe Girls and Yes I’m Tricky in the second, Florida Keys and Grafton in the third, and Vote in the fourth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/81. Money: Previous day/meet total: $7.20/$400.20. Total money bet: $570.