Murphy rides again at Keeneland

Prior to this week, the last time Cindy Murphy had ridden at Keeneland was the 2000 Fall Meet – where she picked up a victory on one of her three mounts.

“Sumthintotalkabout for (trainer) Steve Hobby,” Murphy said Thursday afternoon without a moment’s hesitation. “I have not ridden here since.”

Back at Keeneland, Murphy rode a couple of 2-year-olds for her husband, Travis, finishing fourth on Wednesday on Knocker Down and sixth Thursday on Alia Max. Both races were won by runners trained by the meet leader, Wesley Ward.

“We didn’t run as well as we liked,” Murphy said. “We just shipped in (from Remington Park in Oklahoma) and we are shipping out for Prairie Meadows (in Iowa).”

The Murphys do have another Keeneland entrant, Teo Mateo, on Sunday, April 18.

Riding since 1987, Murphy has compiled 1,975 victories in her career – many under the name Cindy Noll. She will head to Iowa nearing a milestone.

“I don’t like to say much about that,” Murphy said, not wanting to jinx herself and adding with a laugh, “You count my Quarter Horse wins, I am over 2,000 but they don’t mix the two.”