drayden van dyke | Horse Racing Free Tips

At the Spa Leads Field Of Eleven For Sorrento At Del Mar

A field of 11 was entered Sunday for Friday's 53rd running of the $200,000 Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., a major stepping stone to the $300,000 Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on September 5.

At The Spa, a California-bred daughter of Outwork bred and owned by Terry Lovingier and trained by Jorge Periban, comes in off a victory in the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Debutante on June 20 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., and will be tasked to go another eighth of a mile in the Sorrento while breaking from the outside post. The filly is also entered in Thursday's CTBA Stakes.

The field for the Sorrento from the rail with jockeys in parenthesis: She's So Shiny (Ricky Gonzalez); Smash Ticket (Umberto Rispoli); Eda (Abel Cedillo); Shesgotattitude (Trevor McCarthy); Loverheart (Drayden Van Dyke); It's Simple (Mario Gutierrez); Sax (Joe Bravo); First Promise (Jessica Pyfer); Elm Drive (Juan Hernandez); Roses For Suzzett (Emily Ellingwood) and At the Spa (Tyler Baze).

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‘Like Old Times’: Van Dyke Excited To Be Back At Del Mar

Jockey Drayden Van Dyke wasn't gone from the Southern California racing circuit all that long. It was only a few months, from late March to early July, when the 26-year-old from Louisville went back to his Kentucky roots, plying his trade at Churchill Downs, Keeneland and Turfway Park.

Statistically, it was not a triumphant return to his old Kentucky home. Wins came at roughly a 10 percent rate for just over 100 mounts with the highlight being a victory in the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway aboard Like The King and a subsequent 12^th-place finish on the same horse in his first Kentucky Derby opportunity.

“I did miss California a lot,” Van Dyke admitted here Tuesday morning. “There's no place like it.”

California riding exploits earned Van Dyke an Eclipse Award as the top apprentice of 2014. And he had career year at Del Mar in 2018 when he won both the summer and fall titles at the seaside track north of San Diego, and, during the summer stand, won 11 stakes races – one third of his current seaside track total.

But, as Van Dyke pointed out in interviews shortly before leaving Kentucky, he has no regrets about the temporary self-transplant and expects it to have long-term benefits.

“I enjoyed my experience in Kentucky, it was a good learning experience and now it's onwards and upwards,” Van Dyke said.

“A change can be good for anybody.”

Van Dyke was represented by Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens during part of his time in the Midwest. But with Stevens back at Saratoga, N.Y., working as an expert commentator on New York Racing Association and other broadcasts, Van Dyke's book is being handled by Brandon O'Bryan, a third-generation jockey agent. Brandon's grandfather George, a legend in the business who represented five Hall of Famers at one time or another in a lengthy career, passed away in February at the age of 100. Brandon's father, Craig, came out of semi-retirement last year to work with Juan Hernandez on a highly successful transition from the Northern to Southern California circuit.

“I can't wait to get to work with Brandon and see what we can do,” Van Dyke said. “I'm excited to be back at Del Mar, excited that there's going to be fans around again. It's like old times. I'm in a really good state of mind and I want to build my business back up and get into a winning mode.”

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Drayden Van Dyke Returning To Southern California

Jockey Drayden Van Dyke, the 2014 Eclipse Award-winning apprentice, is making plans to move back to Southern California, reports the Daily Racing Form.

The 26-year-old rider shifted his tack to Kentucky in the spring of 2021, and was represented by retired Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens while riding at Turfway Park, Keeneland and Churchill Downs. Van Dyke also earned his first mount in the Kentucky Derby aboard the Wesley Ward-trained Like The King, who finished 12th.

“Coming out here was a great learning experience and it's only going to make me better,” Van Dyke told DRF. “It wasn't a mistake coming here. It was really good for me. Riding with different riders out here, in a room that is loaded with talent, you learn stuff and you learn how to hustle.”

Van Dyke plans to finish out this weekend at Ellis Park before heading back to California for the start of the Del Mar meeting. Brandon O'Bryan will represent Van Dyke on the West Coast.

Like the King Switches Back To Dirt at Keeneland

A week after taking a spin around the Keeneland turf course, Like the King (Palace Malice) returned to the Keeneland main track Saturday morning, drilling three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.80 (1/3) (see below) for the GI Kentucky Derby.

With former jockey Julio Garcia at the controls, the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks winner worked in the company of newly minted Sovereign Award winner Artie's Princess (We Miss Artie) and broke off three lengths behind his stablemate before drawing on even terms at the sixteenth pole.

“That was a good work and the horse he worked with is a champion,” said trainer Wesley Ward, well on his way to a seventh Keeneland title. “He'll work again next Saturday or Sunday.”

Drayden Van Dyke, who has the call at Churchill, was aboard Like the King for his move.

WATCH: Like the King works Saturday at Keeneland

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