jockey of the week | Horse Racing Free Tips

Junior Alvarado’s Derby Prep Win Propels Him To Jockey Of The Week Honors

Junior Alvarado travelled from his winter base of Gulfstream Park to Tampa Bay Downs for their Festival Preview Day and won two of their graded stakes, earning Jockey of the Week honors for Feb. 1 through Feb. 7. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 950 active riders in the United States as well as retired and permanently disabled jockeys.

Alvarado was given a leg up on Candy Man Rocket by trainer Bill Mott's son and assistant, Riley Mott in the Gr. 3 Sam F. Davis, the centerpiece of the Festival Preview Day.

“I didn't really want to engage the horse up front (Boca Boy) or make any quick move too early. I just had to move a little bit, keep holding my position and wait as long as I could,” Alvarado said. “At the sixteenth pole when I switched my stick to the right hand and showed it to him to see what I had left, he put his head low and kept grinding his way there.”

The margin of victory for the 1-1/16 mile test was a length in 1:44.30.

Earlier on the card, Alvarado had the mount on Get Smokin for trainer Tom Bush in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes, the second choice in the 12-horse field.

“I had to get out of there running. He's a fast horse and he likes to be on the lead, but I knew (Proven Strategies) has a lot of speed too, so it wasn't necessary for me to keep going after him and go head-to-head. I knew the whole way around I had plenty of horse. Turning for home, I was just a passenger…he started picking it up on his own without me asking, so I knew I was in good shape.”

The winning time for the 1-1/16 mile turf test was 1:40.75.

Usually a year-round force on the New York racing circuit, Alvarado returned to south Florida for the winter months for the first time in 12 years to follow Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

Alvarado's statistics for the week were 27-5-2-2 with $322,585 in purse earnings.

Alvarado out-polled Antonio Gallardo who had a stakes win and earned his 2,000th career victory, Irad Ortiz, Jr. who had a stakes win and was leading jockey by wins, Flavien Prat who won the Gr. III Las Virgenes and Joel Rosario who won two graded stakes including the San Vincente.

The post Junior Alvarado’s Derby Prep Win Propels Him To Jockey Of The Week Honors appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Ageless Jon Court Voted Jockey Of The Week

A fan favorite at Oaklawn Park for 40 years, Jon Court proved he isn't slowing down as he recorded his 34th stakes victory and his 689th career victory at Oaklawn Park earning Jockey of the Week honors for Jan. 25 through Jan. 31. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 950 active riders in the United States as well as retired and permanently disabled jockeys.

Riding for trainer Dallas Stewart and owner Willis Horton in the Martha Washington, the 60-year-old Court settled Will's Secret behind the pace setter Sylvia Q who led the field of six through early fractions of :23 3/5 and :45 1/5 for the first half mile. Four wide turning for home, Will's Secret put her head in front at the top of the lane drawing clear of 4-5 favorite Couch to win by 5 ¼ lengths. The winning time was 1:38 3/5 for one mile over a muddy track.

“The strategy was to not let the speed separate from us and keep them within striking distance, just because it is a short stretch, short run to the wire,” Court said. “I was keeping that in mind and mindful that these horses do have speed that carries.”

Court added that winning the Martha Washington had added significance because it was for Horton.

“These silks mean a lot to me,” Court said. “Six years ago I won this race for the Hortons and here we are back again. The odds weren't quite as favoring, but it was a pretty awesome experience to win. I'm known for pulling off long shots. It's just what I do.”

With no plans to retire, Court added, “I'm just very, very fortunate and thankful to the higher powers.”

Lifetime statistics for Court through Sunday, January 31 include 34,427 mounts with 4,194 wins and total purses of $108,191,731.

Court out-polled fellow jockeys Jesus Castanon a stakes winner at Sam Houston, Manny Franco who was second leading jockey by purse earnings, Julien Leparoux also a stakes winner at Sam Houston and Irad Ortiz, Jr. who was the leading jockey by wins with 13.

The post Ageless Jon Court Voted Jockey Of The Week appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Joel Rosario Parlays Pegasus Victory Into Jockey Of The Week Title

Joel Rosario posted three stakes wins including the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup to be named Jockey of the Week for Jan. 18 through Jan. 24. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 950 active riders in the United States as well as retired and permanently disabled jockeys.

Rosario began the week at Santa Anita on Monday in the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes aboard Mucho Unusual for trainer Tim Yakteen. Breaking alertly in the scratched-down field of four, Mucho Unusual ran in second just behind the leader. A three horse battle developed in the final furlong with Mucho Unusual prevailing by three-quarters of a length.

On Saturday, Rosario travelled to south Florida from his southern California base with mounts in four stakes races on Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park. Shug McGaughey gave Rosario a leg up on Performer in the Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper, who went to the post as the 4-5 favorite in a field of eight. Breaking from the rail, Rosario eased him off the rail while chasing the leaders. He advanced on the tiring pacesetters on the turn and took a narrow lead into the stretch to win by a neck.

“I didn't want to fall too far back but be there in the race…he broke good and got the job done. He's a nice horse,” said Rosario. “It feels good to be back (at Gulfstream) even for a day. I'm glad to be here.”

Trainer Brad Cox teamed with Rosario on Knicks Go in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup. The 6-5 favorite went right to the lead and was on cruise control, cantering home by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:47.89.

“He's a very special horse,” Rosario said who has piloted Knicks Go to three straight wins. “He just goes faster and faster…He was really enjoying what he was doing out there, so I was never worried about somebody getting close to me.”

After riding on the east coast since 2013, Rosario returned to southern California for the Santa Anita Winter/Spring meet. He has won multiple riding titles in southern California and is currently third in the standings at Santa Anita.

Rosario's weekly stats were 18-5-0-1 and was the leading jockey by purse earnings with $1,929,645.

Rosario out-polled fellow jockeys Colby Hernandez who won the most races with 10, Tyler Gaffalione with two graded stakes wins, Abel Cedillo with a graded stakes and Irad Ortiz, Jr. who won the Pegasus World Cup Turf.

The post Joel Rosario Parlays Pegasus Victory Into Jockey Of The Week Title appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Hernandez Jr. Takes Two Stakes, Earning Him Jockey Of The Week Title

After two stakes victories at Fair Grounds on “The Road to the Derby Kickoff Day,” Brian Hernandez Jr. was voted Jockey of the Week for January 11 through January 17. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 950 active riders in the United States as well as retired and permanently disabled jockeys.

Trainer Chris Block gave Hernandez, Jr. a leg up on Charlie's Penny in the Silverbulletday Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Dismissed at odds of 9.20-1, Charlie's Penny sat a clear stalking trip behind the pacesetter Littlestitious, then rallied on the turn for home and went on score an authoritative 3-1/4-length win.

“She was able to get herself in a nice position quickly,” Hernandez Jr. said. Going around the first turn and then once she got outside she travelled nicely with her ears up the whole way. She was there for me. I just had to be a good passenger.”

Riding for trainer Dallas Stewart in the Grade 3 Louisiana Stakes for 4-year-olds and up, Hernandez Jr. had the mount on Title Ready. A clear fourth in the early going, Title Ready rallied on the turn for home, then closed strongly to take the lead and drew away to win by 1-1/4 lengths.

“You know coming out of two Grade 1's, he's not chasing Authentic and those horses around there today,” Hernandez Jr. explained. “We thought that if he broke good and got himself in the race, it would benefit him.”

The Louisiana native is the son of retired jockey Brian Joseph Hernandez. Hernandez Jr. was awarded the Eclipse Award as Outstanding Apprentice in 2004 and is a multiple graded stakes winning jockey. He rides the Kentucky circuit and Fair Grounds in the winter. His younger brother, Colby, is also a jockey.

Weekly stats for Hernandez, Jr. were 23-5-6-1. He led all jockeys by total purse earnings of $326,840.

Hernandez Jr. out-polled fellow riders Antonio Gallardo who won two stakes races at Tampa Bay, Irad Ortiz, Jr. who led all jockeys by wins with 10, Umberto Rispoli who won two stakes at Santa Anita and Sheldon Russell who won three stakes races at Laurel.

The post Hernandez Jr. Takes Two Stakes, Earning Him Jockey Of The Week Title appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post