James Graham usually rides at Fair Grounds this time of year, but when a shot at a start in the Kentucky Derby is on the line, he happily makes the journey. Despite a lack of familiarity with the Oaklawn track, Graham and his mount Confidence Game timed their rally perfectly to score an upset win in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2).
For Graham's surprise win, the panel of racing experts voted the journeyman Jockey of the Week for Feb. 21 through Feb. The award recognizes jockeys for riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
Trainer Keith Desormeaux gave a leg up to Graham on Confidence Game in the G2 Rebel Stakes, a race offering the winner 50 points toward a start in the Kentucky Derby. Off at odds of 18-1 and facing a talented 11-horse field that included multiple stakes-winning or stakes-placed colts, Confidence Game raced in mid-pack until the final turn. Graham guided Confidence Game three-wide then five-wide into the stretch to win by a length in 1:44.21 over a track rated as sloppy, paying $39 to his backers.
“He sort of lost his mind in the paddock, so I was worried until he got on the track,” said Desormeaux. “James (Graham) got him to settle down out there.”
“I was able to settle him down when we were warming up so he got back in the things mentally,” said a clearly excited Graham. “The outrider had to pick me up. I'm hoping he can carry me all the way to the Derby!”
With the win, Confidence Game currently sits at the top of the Kentucky Derby point standings.
Graham has ridden Confidence Game in six of his seven starts. Next stop for Confidence Game could be a return trip to Oaklawn for the Arkansas Derby on April 1 or to stay at Fair Grounds, his home track, for the Louisiana Derby on March 25.
Graham, a native of Dublin, Ireland, currently is in third place in the Fair Grounds standings where he has won four leading rider titles.
Other contenders for Jockey of the Week included Samy Camacho who won 11 races to lead all jockeys for the week, Harry Hernandez with a stakes win at Turf Paradise, Jareth Loveberry with two stakes wins at Fair Grounds, and Irad Ortiz, Jr. who won five races on Feb. 24.
The post Perfectly-Timed Rebel Rally Nets James Graham Jockey Of The Week Title appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
