Month: June 2022

WSS Racing's Barber Road, listed at odds of 10-1 in Saturday's Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, has only just arrived in New York. But his trainer, former Elmont-resident John Ortiz, is hopeful of a homecoming to remember.

“I moved to New York when I was five,” said Ortiz, a native of Colombia. “I went to Gotham Avenue Elementary and then to Elmont Memorial High School.

“As a kid, I spent as much time as I possibly could at Belmont. I remember leaving after school to run to the backside,” he added. “I got my first job there with Bill Mott and started hotwalking with him.”

His father, Carlos, a former jockey, galloped horses for Mott and a young Ortiz was keen to follow in the family tradition, learning the ropes on a multiple stakes placed mare named Brown Eyed Lass under the watchful eye of the Hall of Fame conditioner.

“I got on my first racehorse for Bill Mott,” Ortiz said. “He took me on the track with the pony and we jogged together for the first time. I was hooked ever since.”

Ortiz worked his way up the ranks and in 2016, at the age of 30, he launched his own training career, saddling his first winner at Turfway Park that December. He has based his stable mainly in Kentucky and Arkansas, achieving his first graded stakes success when Zulu Alpha captured the 2019 Grade 3 Sycamore at Keeneland.

Barber Road, by Race Day, has lifted the young conditioner's profile to another level, closing to hit the board in four consecutive Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races at Oaklawn Park. The grinding colt earned placings in the Smarty Jones [2nd], Grade 3 Southwest [2nd], Grade 2 Rebel [3rd] and Grade 1 Arkansas Derby [2nd].

Last out, he closed from last-of-20 and 19 lengths off the pace under Reylu Gutierrez to finish sixth with a wide run down the lane in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs, finishing just 4 3/4-lengths in arrears of 80-1 upset winner Rich Strike.

“I've seen a big maturity boost in him leaving the Kentucky Derby,” Ortiz said. “He finally got that stretch run with no interference and even though he went wide, I was happy to see him able to run in the clear. You could see how hard he was closing. He moved at the same time as Rich Strike- he went to the inside and we went outside, but we were only four lengths short. That gave our horse the strength and fitness we were looking for. He looks more athletic after the Kentucky Derby.”

Barber Road will exit the outside post 8 on Saturday under new rider Joel Rosario, a two-time Belmont Stakes winner.

“I love where we drew on the far outside. We have plenty of stretch to get settled in early in the race,” Ortiz said. “Hopefully, we can get into the right position going into the first turn.

“We're giving our horse the best shot he can possibly take here with Joel, who is a very experienced local rider,” added Ortiz. “He's a great match for this horse and this race.”

Ortiz said he is appreciative of Barber Road's tenacious character.

“He's hard-knocker and out there to please. You know he's always giving it all,” Ortiz said. “He trains happily and when he runs, he enjoys it. All I can ask going into a race like this is that they're fit, happy and sound – I got all three of them and that gives me confidence.”

Ultimately, Ortiz said he would love to see Barber Road win after so many close efforts.

“I want to win for the horse,” Ortiz said. “I like to see horses win because I know how hard they work out in the mornings. It's not just a human thing. The horses deserve to be recognized for their success and that's why we take win pictures at the end. They know when they win and I think this horse deserves a shot.”

Ortiz is emotional when speaking about the opportunity to be represented in Saturday's “Test of the Champion.”

“I'm beyond thankful to be participating in the Belmont Stakes,” Ortiz said. “It's a race I've loved and looked forward to since I was a kid. I grew up in Elmont, New York, so it's a hometown race for me.

“Belmont is the biggest reason why I am the trainer I am today but also the person I am today,” he continued. “I did all my growing up in Elmont and on the backside of Belmont Park. It's coming full circle.”

And as for his chances of winning and getting Barber Road that well-deserved stakes win photo?

“I think we can expect some of Joel's magic,” said Ortiz, with a laugh.

The post ‘Full Circle’: Barber Road Brings Trainer John Ortiz Back To Belmont Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Jockey Dylan Davis, currently the leading rider at the Belmont Park spring/summer meet, will have his first mount in a Triple Crown race when piloting Golden Glider in Saturday's Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

Davis, a native of Manhasset, N.Y., earned his first Grade 1 victory last October aboard Mutamakina in Woodbine's E.P. Taylor. His upward trajectory continued into the fall and winter in New York with Davis capturing his first NYRA circuit riding title at the Aqueduct Racetrack winter meet.

Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, who saddled 2019 Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston, Golden Glider arrives at the “Test of the Champion” off a runner-up finish to 2-1 morning line favorite We the People in the Grade 3 Peter Pan on May 14. Sir Winston also arrived at the Belmont Stakes from a runner-up effort in the Peter Pan.

“It feels great. I'm excited and I'm raring to go. Thanks go out to Mark Casse for letting me ride in my first Belmont,” said Davis, who guided Golden Glider in his most recent effort. “I ride for a lot of guys on the backstretch so I can't say enough about them. I'm back leading again through the Belmont meet, and this has been my best year yet in my career. I'm always trying to thrive and do better.”

Owned by Gary Barber, Manfred Conrad and Penny Conrad, Golden Glider was a close fifth down the backstretch in the Peter Pan, just 3 1/2 lengths off pacesetting We the People. Golden Glider battled gamely to the inside of two others for second in a three-horse photo for place honors.

Davis expressed optimism in his horse despite Golden Glider's 20-1 morning line odds.

“I'm really high on my horse,” Davis said. “He's a stalker. When I rode him in the Peter Pan, what I liked about him was that when he was able to switch off. I think that's the key to getting the distance with him, is being able to switch off.”

Davis said Golden Glider is likely to be prominent.

“It looks like he's going to be somewhat forwardly-placed and then we'll take it from there. He's going to run his 'A' game. He's been training well and everything,” Davis said. “I'm just trying to ride a nice, steady, honest race. I don't want to get too crazy early, but at the same time I want to get some position. I really think he'll be there for me down the lane.”

While Davis was not aboard Sir Winston in his Belmont coup, he did pilot the horse to an allowance triumph the following winter at Aqueduct.

“I loved that race. He was great to ride,” Davis said. “He came with an explosive run. He was maybe next-to-last and came with a strong kick. Man, it was nice to have a horse like that underneath me. It's just Mark giving me the trust to ride horses like that. I read where Mark said he will have a similar style to Sir Winston when he won. He was fairly close up in the Belmont.”

Golden Glider is by champion and prolific sire Ghostzapper, whose sire Awesome Again produced Sir Winston.

“The Peter Pan was run over a good and sealed track and that day the speed was holding, so it was tough to close,” Davis said. “I feel like right now, Golden Glider is more of a steady-paced horse. Maybe Sir Winston has a stronger closing kick. The biggest similarity is that they'll always give you a kick down the lane.”

Davis is no stranger to riding winners for the Casse barn, having piloted New York-bred filly Make Mischief to victory in the Critical Eye Handicap last month.

He credited both Casse as well as his New York-based assistant Shane Tripp for being instrumental to his success.

“Shane is a great guy. He gives me free rein when I ride. He'll say, 'You got a plan? OK, sounds good. Go execute,'” Davis said. “It just gives me a lot of confidence to know that I'm in control out there and I can do what I think is right for the moment. A guy like Mark Casse is giving me opportunities and I'm just trying to do the best I can.”

Davis also credited Christophe Clement, trainer of Mutamakina, for giving him plentiful opportunities. In addition to the E.P. Taylor, Davis rode Mutamakina to three other graded stakes scores.

“Christophe Clement really took to me into the fall last year, giving me my first Grade 1 and plenty of winners through Belmont,” Davis said. “He really gave me the momentum I needed through the winter and helped me win my first riding title.”

With the Belmont Stakes taking place at his home track, Davis knows he'll have plenty of support on Saturday.

“I got a lot of people rooting for me and it feels great that I'm in my hometown riding in the biggest race on this track,” Davis said.

The post Hometown Boy Dylan Davis ‘Excited’ For First Belmont Stakes Mount appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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