jockey of the week | Horse Racing Free Tips

Jaime Rodriguez’ 10 Wins Earn Jockey Of The Week Title

While Jaime Rodriguez usually rides between Delaware Park and Parx, last week he added Pimlico and Penn National posting an impressive 10 wins from 26 mounts to be voted Jockey of the Week for July 19 through July 25. 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.

A native of Puerto Rico, Rodriguez attended the famous Escuela Vocacional Hipica jockey school and has been riding state-side since 2010. He rode primarily at Aqueduct and Belmont before moving his tack to Finger Lakes in 2012 where he dominated the standings while also riding at Mahoning Valley. In 2020, with Finger Lakes delaying their meet because of Covid-19 restrictions, Rodriguez decided to come to the Mid-Atlantic region. The move has paid dividends.

Last year, his first riding at Delaware Park, Rodriguez won 56 races for third in the standings, he rides first call at Delaware Park for leading trainer Jamie Ness.

“If I got a closer, if I got a runner, a turf horse, it really doesn't matter,” Ness said speaking to The Racing Biz. “He's not a one-dimensional rider. I just think he does everything right.”

Rodriguez rode the Ness-trained The King Cheek to a win in the Sir Barton Stakes this year at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard.

“That was an experience,” Rodriguez said. “To win with a horse on Preakness day, that was amazing.”

Rodriguez notched his 1,000th winner on February 21, 2018 at Mahoning Valley. He currently sits atop the standings at Delaware Park with 43 wins. Together with girlfriend, trainer Amber Cobb, he has two children.

“I want to try my talent in different environments,” said Rodriguez in an interview with The Racing Biz. “See how good I can go. I want to fly high and be proud, you know?”

Rodriguez's statistics for the week were 26-10-5-2 for a 65% in-the-money rate and $188,460 in purses.

Other nominees for Jockey of the Week were Victor Carrasco with two stakes wins, Jose L. Ortiz who also won 10 races including two stakes races, Flavien Prat with two stakes wins and Ricardo Santana, Jr. who won the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks.

The post Jaime Rodriguez’ 10 Wins Earn Jockey Of The Week Title appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Joel Rosario Voted Jockey of The Week After Three Graded Stakes Wins

Joel Rosario's trip to Monmouth Park on Saturday resulted in three graded stakes wins earning him Jockey of the Week honors for July 12 through July 18. 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 Chad Brown gave a leg up to Rosario on Great Island in the Grade 3 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on the turf at 1 1/8 miles. Breaking from post position two in the field of six, Great Island settled at the back of the field, moved up on the far turn and finished fast to just catch Kalifornia Queen and prevail by a half-length in 1:48.89.

“She's a nice horse and it makes it easy when you ride that kind of horse,” Rosario said.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Dr Post was ridden by Rosario for the first time in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup Stakes for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on the dirt. Off as second choice in the wagering, Dr Post settled off the pace in the field of six, moved up on the backside and rallied six wide into the stretch to pull away for a 1-1/4-length victory in 1:47.53.

“I never rode this horse before, but Todd said he has been a little more focused with the blinkers,” Rosario said. “I think that was the case in the race.”

Riding again for Todd Pletcher, Rosario had the mount on Graceful Princess in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher Stakes for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Off at odds of 14-1 in the field of nine, Graceful Princess came from off the pace and rolled to a three-quarters length victory in 1:47.67.

“It's always nice to ride for Todd, I don't think she has run quite this well before but today she was ready and she won a tough race and proved she was ready for this kind of company,” said Rosario.

With the win, Rosario swept the first three graded stakes on the card.

“I came into today thinking I had some chances but you don't know,” said Rosario. “You have to have the right horses.”

Rosario's weekly stats were: 31-5-4-6 for an in-the-money percentage of 48.3 and total purse earnings of $852,648 to lead all riders.

Other contenders for Jockey of the Week were Manny Franco who won the Grade 1 Diana, Irad Ortiz, Jr. with two Grade 3 stakes, Luis Saez also with two Grade 3 stakes, and Ruben Silvera who posted nine victories from 22 mounts.

The post Joel Rosario Voted Jockey of The Week After Three Graded Stakes Wins appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Flavien Prat Voted Jockey Of The Week After Graded Stakes Double

With no racing in Southern California last week, Flavien Prat plied his trade at Indiana Grand and Belmont Park winning two graded stakes races and earning Jockey of the Week honors for July 6 through July 11. 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.

On Wednesday, Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella called on Prat to pilot Soothsay in the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks at Indiana Grand. Off as the second choice in the field of nine, Soothsay broke in the air and was last going into the far turn. But Prat stayed calm and regrouped.

“It was just a matter if she could make up the ground,” said Prat.

Soothsay and Prat began closing into contention around the far turn continuing to close to just get up to win by a neck over 40-1 shot Moon Swag in 1:44.36 for the mile and one-sixteenth.

“Flavien showed what a star he has become. He got off bad. He just sat there cool, didn't lose any more ground than he had to. Just a great ride,” said Mandella when reached by phone by Indiana Grand media.

Prat then travelled to Belmont Park to ride Souper Sensational for the first time for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse in the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes for 3-year-olds which was part of the Stars and Stripes Day card. Souper Sensational was slowest away from the gate but demonstrated an impressive turn-of-foot late in the turn for a 3-1/4-length win in 1:15.79 for the 6-1/2 furlongs.

“She was travelling well and when I got her in the clear, she really kicked on well,” said Prat. “I bided my time and got to a nice rhythm. In the end, she really responded.”

While limited with only four mounts for the week, Prat's total purse earnings were $392,700. He out-polled fellow jockeys Daniel Centeno who won the G2 Delaware Handicap, Stewart Elliott who posted an impressive 13 wins to lead all jockeys while also capturing the leading jockey title at Lone Star, Ramon A. Vazquez who won the G3 Indiana Derby and Lindey Wade with a win percentage of 47.6 from 21 mounts.

Prat is headed back to California for Opening Day at Del Mar Friday, July 16.

The post Flavien Prat Voted Jockey Of The Week After Graded Stakes Double appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Joel Rosario Voted Jockey Of The Week After Trio Of Stakes Wins

Joel Rosario was on the road over the holiday weekend winning two graded stakes at Prairie Meadows and a listed stakes at Belmont Park earning Jockey of the Week for June 28 through July 5. 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.

On Friday night, Rosario invaded Prairie Meadows for engagements on two mounts in the Iowa Festival of Racing. Off as the favorite for trainer Mike Maker in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks, Army Wife and Joel Rosario sat third while saving ground early after breaking from post 1. Rosario angled out four wide at the top of the stretch and collared the leader Shesa Mystery near the eighth pole drawing off to win the one and one-sixteenth contest by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:43.10.

“She performed really well like she did the last time,” Rosario said. “It looks like she is getting better.”

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup winner Knicks Go headlined the Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap and did not disappoint. Given a leg up by trainer Brad Cox, Rosario sat motionless most of the 1 1/8 miles race aboard Knicks Go, having gained the early lead in the field of seven. He extended his advantage on the far turn and cruised to a 10-1/4 length win in 1:47.33.

On Monday, back at Belmont Park riding for trainer Christophe Clement, Rosario was aboard Gufo in the first running of the Grand Couturier Stakes, a 1-1/2 mile turf test. Breaking from post 6, Rosario saved ground in last with Tide of the Sea on the lead. On the far turn, Rosario urged Gufo out and picked off his rivals one by one. Tide of the Sea re-rallied in the stretch but Gufo prevailed by a length in 2:28.73, surviving an objection by the fourth place finisher Sadler's Joy.

“He always likes to look around a little bit, and that was it. He was fine after that,” said Rosario about his stretch run.

Rosario's weekly stats were 22-5-3-6 for a 22.7 percent win rate and total purses of $608,270.

For Jockey of the Week, Rosario out-polled Samy Camacho who tied for number of wins with Luis Saez who also won two stakes races, Mike Smith who won two Grade 3 stakes and John Velazquez who won two Grade 2 stakes races.

The post Joel Rosario Voted Jockey Of The Week After Trio Of Stakes Wins appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post