Assael Espinoza put an exclamation point on Golden Gate's closing week posting 10 winners including a stakes race and a five-win day on Saturday. Espinoza's 10 wins led all North American jockeys. The panel of racing experts voted Espinoza Jockey of the Week for December 4 through December 10.
The honor recognizes jockeys for riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1,050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
Espinoza began the race week on Friday with three wins from eight mounts. Riding for trainer Steve Sherman, Espinoza won the second race with Sir Greyson. His second win came in the third race for trainer Reid France aboard Roses R Blue and his third winner was race eight for trainer Matthew Troy aboard Beaudacious.
With a mount in every race on Saturday's card, Espinoza won five races starting with the second aboard Gonna Getcha Good for trainer Jack Steiner. Riding again for Steiner, Espinoza won the fourth race with Auspicious Style. Back-to-back wins came in race six for trainer Steven Specht with Mother's Prayer and race seven riding Imperial Hornet for Leonard Powell. Espinoza finished the day in race 10 with Roister for trainer Ruby Thomas.
Espinoza continued his winning ways on closing day Sunday with eight mounts on the 10-race card. He started the day with a win in the first race aboard Thirsty Thursday for Reid France. Espinoza saved his biggest win for the day's feature race, the Miss America Stakes riding Signorina Merisi (GB) for Manuel Badilla. Espinoza has been Signorina Merisi's rider in all nine of her starts in the United States. Signornia Merisi closed from fourth in the field of nine fillies and mares to win over race favorite Anthonys Cleopatra by a length in 1:44.11 for the 1 1/16 miles main track event.
Espinoza will celebrate his 24th birthday on December 30 and is the nephew of Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza. The Arcadia, California native scored his first career victory at Santa Anita in February 2018. He moved his tack to Northern California in 2021. He won his second Golden Gate riding title for the 2022-2023 Winter/Spring meet; he finished atop the standings during the 2022 Summer Meet. He won his first graded stakes race November 27, 2021 with Freeport Joe in the G3 Berkeley Handicap for trainer Gloria Haley.
Other contenders for Jockey of the Week included Juan J. Hernandez who won the G2 Starlet, Chris Landeros with a stakes win at Oaklawn Park, Julien Leparoux who also won a stakes race at Oaklawn Park where he is riding for the first time, and Irad Ortiz, Jr. with two stakes wins at Gulfstream Park.
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