Foster wins first Turfway training title, Machado fourth

Edited Turfway Park press release (Coady Media photo of Eric Foster and Everland by Sammantha Eagles)

FLORENCE, Ky. (Sunday, March 31, 2024) – Eric Foster won his first trainer’s title, taking the Turfway Park winter-spring crown that ended Saturday night with 15 victories, one more than Brad Cox. Foster capped his meet with stakes triumphs in the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks with Everland in the $150,000 Cincinnati Trophy with Maxisuperfly. Everland was haltered out of a $30,000 maiden-claiming race while Maxisuperfly was an $18,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase.

Foster led all trainers with 86 starters that accounted for six seconds and 13 thirds, with the show finishes tying Mike Maker for the most at the meet. Foster’s horses earned $837,777, surpassed only by Cox’s $949,818.

While Everland is being pointed for the Kentucky Oaks, Maxisuperfly could go in Churchill Downs’ Grade 2 Eight Belles on the Derby card. “Eight Belles is tempting,” Foster said in a text message Sunday. “we are going to nominate and see how it goes.”

Video: Eric Foster after Everland’s Bourbonette Oaks win

Video: Everland owners Bill Wargel and Sidney Karmia

Jockey Luan Machado easily clinched his fourth leading rider title well before the meet was over. He finished with with 62 victories, a remarkable 25 more than second-place Gerardo Corrales. Machado’s mounts earned a meet-beast $2,355,577.

          Represented by Cory Prewitt, Machado swept the leading rider titles this season at Turfway Park winning both the Winter/Spring Meet and 2023 Holiday Meet.

Machado began riding at Turfway Park in 2018 and has quickly become a top rider in the colony. A native of Brazil, Machado won his first local riding title during the 2018 Holiday Meet when he tied Rodney Prescott with 21 wins. Machado would go on to win the 2019 Winter/Spring Meet with 35 victories.

          “I was never a leading rider in Brazil but I always knew I could do better. That’s why I left Brazil,” Machado said. “When I came to Turfway I was very excited to ride in Kentucky. The Kentucky circuit is tough but I’ve proven I’ve been able to compete with the talented riders here.

          “I’m very thankful for everyone that’s helped me get to this point. I am going to keep working as hard as I can to be successful.”

          Machado’s 2024 Winter/Spring Meet has been nothing short of dominant. His 62 victories are the most of any rider at the Winter/Spring Meet since Albin Jiminez piloted 80 winners in 2016. Machado plans to keep his tack year-round in Kentucky and will move to Keeneland when they open their meet on Friday.

The partnership Christina Estvanko and Scott Margo led all owners with eight victories at the meet.