Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez shuttled between Keeneland Race Course and Belmont at the Big A for racing engagements winning Grade 2 and Grade 3 stakes races which led to Jockey of the Week honors for October 10 through October 16. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, honors jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
Logging frequent flyer miles is not unusual this time of year for Velazquez with major stakes races around the country and last week was an example. The week started at Keeneland Race Course on Wednesday with an allowance win for trainer H. Graham Motion. On Thursday, Velazquez rode for trainers Wesley Ward and Brendan Walsh.
On Friday at Keeneland, trainer H. Graham Motion gave a leg up to Velazquez on Highland Chief (IRE) in the G3 Sycamore Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/2 miles on the turf. Breaking from post position four in the field of 12, Highland Chief (IRE) raced close to the pace before slipping through an opening on the rail to take command as the field straightened for home, posting a one-length win over Temple in 2:28.87 and returning $15.32 for the win. The connections are considering the Breeders' Cup Turf as Highland Chief's next start.
“I just tried to stay right behind horses, save some ground and hope he would come running,” said Velazquez. “I was just looking for some sort of space down at the quarter pole and once I got it, he was there for me.”
Next, it was off to Belmont at the Big A on Saturday for the mount on Skims for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey in the G2 Sands Point for 3-year-old fillies. Breaking from the inside post in the field of eight, Skims sat just behind the leaders in third and outside of rival Vergara. Skims took over into the final turn while being chased by Vergara but there was no catching Skims who posted a one-length victory in 1:51.14 for the 1 1/8-mile turf test, returning $11.20 for the win.
It was a record-equaling third Sands Point win for Velazquez who won the inaugural running with Perfect Sting (1999) and six years later on Melhor Ainda.
It was back to Keeneland for mounts on Sunday's card and a win for trainer Wesley Ward in an allowance race.
Weekly statistics for Velazquez included five wins and $490,510 in total purse earnings.
Other contenders for Jockey of the Week were Jeiron Barbosa who won 10 races during the week, Hector I. Berrios who won a stakes race at Santa Anita, Tyler Gaffalione with a graded stakes win at Keeneland, and Flavien Prat who won the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge at Keeneland aboard Gina Romantica.
The post Frequent Flier: John Velazquez Named Jockey Of The Week After Graded Wins At Keeneland, Aqueduct appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
