Amatteroftime scoring the Friendly Lover Handicap over No Cents on June 9, 2024, at Monmouth Park. (Melissa Torres/EQUI-PHOTO)
10-year-old set to make 71st career start during Saturday’s Monmouth-At-Meadowlands Feature
Tom Luicci/Monmouth Park
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – There was a business reason behind trainer Silvino Ramirez’s decision to claim back the 10-year-old gelding Amatteroftime for himself for $15,000 on February 10th.
“I knew he would make back that money,” Ramirez said.
Amatteroftime has done just that – and more – in the six starts since returning to Ramirez’s barn.
But there was more to the claim than that, as the 44-year-old trainer readies Amatteroftime for his 71stcareer start in Saturday night’s featured fourth race allowance optional claimer for Jersey-breds going a mile during the all-turf Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet.
Amatteroftime is the first and only stakes winner Ramirez has had since going out on his own in 2020. The son of Eskendereya won the 2021 Charles Hesse III Handicap while in Ramriez’s care.
“He has a special place in my heart,” said Ramirez. “Another reason I claimed him back is because I know he is a sound horse. He has never had a problem. He’s just a race horse. We’ll see how much longer he will race but he is sound. I think we will race him a little more and then he can retire.”
Amatteroftime has been through several trainers since starting his career in 2017 for Jason Servis, winning the New Jersey Breeders’ Handicap the following year. Ben Perkins, Ramirez’s former boss for 11 years, then took over the training duties before Ramirez was entrusted with the horse’s training in 2021.
Jamie Ness then had the horse before Ramirez claimed him back in February.
“I have had this horse for a few years. I know him. He makes money,” said Ramirez.
From his 70-race career to this point, Amatteroftime has won 12 races while banking $728,536. He also won the Friendly Lover Stakes at Monmouth Park in 2024 when Miguel Penaloza was his trainer.
“It’s hard to find horses his age who can still win races and can still make money,” said Ramirez.
Ramirez is trying Amatteroftime on the grass for just the third time in his career on Saturday night, with the first two attempts producing off-the-board finishes.
“He’s not as good on the grass but he is acting like he wants to run again,” said Ramirez, who is wheeling back Amatteroftime in two weeks.
The 44-year-old Ramirez, who hails from Guerrero, Mexico, insists there is still something left in the tank with Amatteroftime.
“He has earned back that money I claimed him for and then some,” said Ramirez, who finished in a tie for fourth in the Monmouth Park trainer standings with 15 wins despite a limited 22-horse barn.
Ramirez, who has almost all claimers and maidens, recorded his 100th career win on Sept. 16 at Parx with Just Be Honest.
“I didn’t even know that. I wasn’t aware,” he said. “That’s pretty good for a small stable like I have. I was very happy with the meet we had at Monmouth Park. I did pretty well considering what I am working with.”
