Cooksey Returns Today

Three days after Chris McCarron’s triumphant exit from riding, a win on Came Home, jockey Patti Cooksey will try for a successful return today at Churchill Downs.

Cooksey, 44, had breast cancer surgery nearly 10 months ago and will ride for the first time since Sept. 7 when she climbs on Gold Empress in the fourth race, a $30,000 maiden claimer at one mile.

The second-winningest female jockey behind hall-of-famer Julie Krone, Cooksey, who began her career in 1979, had a mastectomy, but has been working to return to riding.

Gold Empress, a 4-year-old Miner’s Mark filly owned by Richard, Bertram and Elaine Klein and trained by Steve Flint, could get Cooksey to the winner’s circle. The $100,000 yearling purchase hasn’t come close in three starts since finishing second in her debut Aug. 4, but this will be her first start in a claimer.

At Hollywood Park, Vladimir Cerin has a chance to take the lead from Bobby Frankel in the trainers’ standings.

Through Sunday, Cerin had 13 winners, one fewer than Frankel, who isn’t running any horses today. Cerin will start two and both are contenders. Six G’s, who has won his last two, will make his first start for the trainer in the fifth after having been claimed for $50,000 on June 5, and Spunky Gal should improve in her second start of the year in the seventh, a $48,000 allowance for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf.

Race of the day: The sixth is a $16,000 claimer at six furlongs bringing together old pros Scoop Of Ice, Nikawa and eight others. Scoop Of Ice is stepping up two levels after having been claimed by trainer Ted H. West.

Who’s hot: Mark Guidry. The jockey won 10 races in five days last week at Churchill Downs and is in the running to finish second behind perennial leader Pat Day in the standings, as are Jon Court and Calvin Borel.

Who’s not: A.C. Avila. The trainer is 0 for 29 at Hollywood Park.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Six G’s, Rumor Patrol and Groom On The Run in the fifth, singling Scoop Of Ice in the sixth, using Teresa Ann, Re Vote and Spunky Gal in the seventh and Our Lov Bug, Good Ol’ Uncle Joe, Sir Bertrando and Grand Visions in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/121. Money: Previous day/meet total: $11.20/$698.40. Total money bet: $774.