Mechanic Susie helps turn jockey standings around

Two champions got back up off the mat this week at Assiniboia Downs. One of them was a human.

Antonio Whitehall won four races on Wednesday evening to wrest back the lead in the jockey standings from surging former Hastings Park rider Kerron Khelawan, and he crossed the finish line first in the last five races on the card. Whitehall was disqualified from winning the seventh race aboard Tap the Parlay when that filly caused some unavoidable interference early in the race.

The winners that stood for Whitehall included Neighneigh ($5.50) in the fourth race for trainer Demetris Topouzis; Mechanic Susie ($3.90) in the fifth for trainer Elton Dickey; Betterlucknexttime ($3.80) in the sixth race for trainer Mike Nault; and a nail biter in the seventh aboard Weekendindelmar ($5.00) for trainer Robert Maybin.

No earth-shattering prices in the bunch, but the fact that the three-time ASD riding champion came back with a huge night after being outscored 2-0 by Khelawan and being knocked out of top spot in the standings the night before spoke volumes.

Khelawan’s double on Tuesday night moved him into a slim lead over Whitehall. He had a single on Wednesday compared to Whitehall’s quad. Whitehall’s four victories gave him 36 on the season, two more than Khelawan, and this battle is probably going to come down to the final day.

“Godspeed,” said Whitehall. “I’m thankful to the owners and everyone for the opportunity. We’re just going to fight and keep working hard and moving forward.”

Former Manitoba champion Mechanic Susie was Whitehall’s most impressive winner, considering she had finally recovered from a serious lung infection.

“She’s back to where she was,” said Dickey. “She was sick. She almost died.”

After her first start this year, Susie started to fade physically and was given six weeks off. “We ultra-sounded her lungs and you could see it,” said Dickey. “Then you’ve got to flush it out. And that’s not easy. I give a lot of credit to veterinarian Cyndi Kasper.”

Susie was making her fourth start off a layoff on Wednesday and finally started showing the signs of a champion again.

“She was a handful,” said Dickey. “These guys had trouble even saddling and bridling her in the barn. She wanted to go. She wanted to do it.”

That was evident on the final turn in the one-mile race, when Susie pulled Whitehall to the lead and opened up into the stretch.

“I didn’t have to ask her,” said Whitehall. “About four and a half furlongs out, you can see down the backside. I’m holding her. She’s towing me, like, let me go, let me go. I’m like, no, not yet.”

When he did say go, Susie listened, hit the gas and drew off to win by 3 3/4-lengths.

“In her earlier races she just wasn’t there,” said Whitehall, who has ridden Susie for 12 of her 13 wins.

He was glad to have her back on top of her game.

“She’s the best,” said Whitehall. “She’s the Queen.”

Mechanic Susie was purchased for $1,000 at the Manitoba CTHS Yearling Sale.

“We were at the sale and had a conversation with breeder Larry Falloon,” said Tom Payne, who co-owns Susie with Falloon and Dickey. “He said, ‘I’m not letting her go cheap without keeping her.’ So we said, we’ll go with you. That’s how we ended up with her.”

Five years later, the six-year-old daughter of Nonios has earned over $250,000 from a record of 13-4-6 from 28 starts. Payne, who has owned numerous champions since becoming involved in the racing game over 45 years ago, has a soft spot for Susie, who was photographed while being fed carrots by barn helper and groom Christine Reaves.

“I have the best grooms on the track,” said Dickey, whose grooms include Wes Jaman and Kenroy (Cuba) Rowe.

Jaman looks after Susie, and Rowe gave him all the credit for the big win. Reaves took Susie to the paddock on Wednesday, and had little trouble handling the multiple former champion.

“How many horses have won six in a row?” said Payne, referring to Susie’s winning streak in 2024.

He then commented on her temperament. “You can’t be a good racehorse without some brains.”

When asked if Susie bites, he said “No, no, no. But they tell you when they’re ready to run. Definitely. She could have gone out and eaten someone the other night. She was just gone.”

“It doesn’t hurt when the good ones bite you.”

Or get up off the mat.