jockey milestones | Horse Racing Free Tips

Fair Grounds: Mitchell Murrill Records 1,000th Career Win

Just a little more than eight years into a career that began at Delta Downs on Halloween in 2013, jockey Mitchell Murrill won his 1,000th career race on Sunday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, La., guiding Selective Racing's Yin Yang (2-1 second choice) to victory for trainer Brad Cox in the day's sixth race, an “off the turf” optional claiming/first-level allowance sprint for 3-year-old fillies.

“I've got to thank Brad (trainer Cox),” Murrill said. “This is the first horse I've ridden for him in my career, so it's kind of nice to get into the winner's circle for him. He told me before the race that the horse (Yin Yang) was going to be keen and to try to get her to relax and keep her running forward. She did it today.”

Earlier on the card Murrill won the fourth race on Cypriano for trainer Chris Hartman, who just two days earlier reached a milestone of his own at Fair Grounds, winning his 1,500 career race. The duo has contributed greatly to each other's success, teaming up for 82 wins since first joining forces four years ago. Following a five for ten winning streak, Murrill had been in an 0 for 23 slump prior to his fourth race score.

“It's pretty awesome,” Murrill said of reaching the milestone. “All week it's been pretty tough to get into the winner's circle, but we got it done and I can't be more grateful for everyone who has contributed.”

The 27-year-old native of Mobile, Ala., scored his first career win aboard Golden Barbara on May 28, 2014. Perennially in the top five in the jockey standings at both Fair Grounds and Arlington Park, he had a breakthrough meet in November at Churchill Downs, finishing fifth with 15 wins. He earned a career-best $5,619,207 in purses in 2021 and counts the 2018 Fair Grounds Oaks (G3) aboard Chocolate Martini as his biggest win to date.

“Gerard Melancon helped me out from the very beginning when I started riding at Evangeline,” Murrill said. “It's hard grinding, working. My agent Tim (Hanisch) is out here every day working hard, trying to make connections with everybody and trying to keep everybody happy. We are just trying to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.”

Murrill's parents and girlfriend had been in attendance earlier in the week, awaiting the milestone win that didn't come until Sunday.

“I told them if I didn't win, they had to go home,” Murrill joked. “I wish they could have been here to share this with me.”

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Decision To Relocate To Gulfstream Pays Off As Jose Ortiz Bags Five Wins

Jose Ortiz rode five winners on Sunday's card at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., scoring aboard Main Event ($27.20) in Race 3, Queen Calypso ($4.80) in Race 5 and Coleridge ($15.40) in Race 8 and Unprecedented ($12.40), as well as champion Groupie Doll's daughter Doll Baby ($7.60) in Race 4.

Ortiz, who rode Regal Glory to a victory in the inaugural $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Invitational (G3) Saturday, relocated from Aqueduct to Gulfstream last week.

“Yesterday and today, we were supposed to be here anyway because we had some good calls,” Ortiz said. “I think here, I'm going to find better horses for down the road. I've been riding here for the last four or five years. My family had a lot to do with me staying there, but I wanted to be down here. I sat down with my wife, and she said, 'Go where you'll be happy. We'll make it work.'”

Leading rider Luis Saez notched his fifth straight multi-win day at Gulfstream, winning aboard Volte Face ($10.20) in Race 1 and Beside Herself ($3.60) in Race 6.

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‘Legend In The Making’: Prat Gets Six Wins, Four Seconds From 10 New Year’s Day Mounts

John Velazquez held a 9-3 advantage in Santa Anita's jockeys' race three days into the meet, but that seemingly large lead dissipated at the Arcadia, Calif., track on Saturday when perennial leader Flavien Prat won six races, closing the gap to 10-9 in a virtual blink.

Prat had mounts in all 10 races, delighting any place parlay players supporting him, as he was second in his other four rides.

The feat was no surprise to those who have watched the 29-year-old Frenchman ply his trade in earnest here since 2015.

Velazquez has registered his 10 victories from 22 mounts, a 45 percent winning average, with purse earnings of $743,850.

Prat has 29 mounts for a 31 percent winning average, with purse earnings of $795,000.

“What can you say?” pondered Doug O'Neill, who has given Prat a leg up on many a winner, including his 3-year-old star of 2021, Hot Rod Charlie, scheduled to leave Jan. 17 for the $12 million World Cup on March 26 in Dubai, where he will have one prep race at Meydan Racecourse before the World Cup.

“Flavien is so good,” O'Neill said. “I've been around here since the 80's with Shoemaker, McCarron and all the legends. Prat is still young with a big future.

“I think we're looking at a legend in the making.”

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Pablo Morales Notches Second Five-Win Day At Tampa Bay Downs

Pablo Morales started 2022 with a bang, riding five winners to move into second place in the early-season jockey standings at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla.

Morales, a 33-year-old from Lima, Peru, got things going Jan. 1 by sweeping the early daily double. He won the first race on Imtakinittothebank, a 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding owned by Volar Corporation and trained by Kathleen O'Connell. Morales captured the second race on Jack Rabbit Quick, another 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding bred and owned by Endsley Oaks Farm and trained by Rafael Schistl.

Morales's next victory came in the fifth, when he kept 8-year-old campaigner Nick the Cardshark to the task through the stretch to defeat long shot Killeen by a head. Jose H. Delgado trains Nick the Cardshark for owner Carole Star Stables. Morales then won the ninth race, the Lambholm South Race of the Week, on 6-year-old gelding Mystic Link for owner Kelly's Racing and trainer Jon Arnett.

By winning the 10^th, the Male Division of the Tampa Turf Test aboard 6-year-old gelding Dazzling Truths, Morales accomplished the rare feat of winning both halves of the early and late daily doubles. Dazzling Truths is owned by Sabal Racing Stables and Patrick Rhodes and trained by Darien Rodriguez, the same connections to win the Tampa Turf Test Fillies and Mares Division with Vip Nation.

Morales got the most out of Dazzling Truths through the stretch, powering him to a 1 ¾-length victory from Bird's Eye View. He paid $6.80 to win after completing the 1-mile distance in 1:37.50.

Morales also had a second and a third from eight mounts. It was his second career five-victory day at Tampa Bay Downs, having gone 5-for-5 on May 4, 2019 (Kentucky Derby Day). Morales rode five winners on back-to-back days on Aug. 23 and Aug. 24 at Presque Isle Downs, where he was the runaway jockey champion.

Approaching the 10^th race, Morales knew he was in a zone and feeling good about his chances. “I'm sure it helped (winning three of the first five races), because everything flows and I was confident and happy. But it was also a factor that I was sitting on good horses and trying to give them good trips,” Morales said.

“I'm hoping this helps me get a little more business, because I think I'm doing pretty well. I don't even ride Wednesday, but I'm happy to at least be able to win some races with what I have. Hopefully, this will open more doors and create more opportunities and I can take advantage. God willing, I'll stay healthy and I'll keep working hard and I think I'll be alright.

“Of all the racetracks I've ridden, you don't take anything for granted here,” he added. “It's definitely not easy, so days like this I feel very lucky to go home to my family happy and to be able to keep working to gain more wins.”

Through Jan. 1, Antonio Gallardo leads the jockey standings with 19 victories, followed by Morales with 18 and Samy Camacho with 17.

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