jockey of the week | Horse Racing Free Tips

Trio Of Cross Country Stakes Wins Net Florent Geroux Jockey Of The Week Title

With two stakes wins at Canterbury Park and a graded stakes win at Churchill Downs, Florent Geroux was voted Jockey of the Week for June 21 through June 27. 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.

Geroux doesn't travel to Canterbury Park often to ride, but on Wednesday evening with four mounts during the Northern Stars Turf Festival he won two stakes with a second and third. The team of Trainer Brad Cox and Geroux won the Curtis Simpson Oaks with Saranya who went off as the favorite in the field of nine 3-year-old fillies. She raced three deep while tracking the leaders on the backstretch, taking command at the furlong marker and held off a late charge from Amalfi Princess with a final time 1:35.04 for the mile.

Cox and Geroux struck again in the Mystic Lake Mile for 3-year-olds and up with Hieronymus. The second choice in the field of nine, Geroux had Hieronymus forwardly placed just off the pacesetter racing to the backstretch. He closed the gap through the stretch to prevail by a nose on the wire in 1:32.93, establishing a new track record for the mile.

Returning to Churchill Downs on Saturday, the Cox/Geroux team went postward with Set Piece (GB) in the Grade 2 Wise Dan for 4-year-olds an up. Somelikeithotbrown was on the lead early, while Set Piece (GB) ran in ninth. At the head of the lane, Set Piece (GB) closed ground while still seven lengths behind Somelikeithotbrown. Inside the eighth pole, Geroux guided Set Piece (GB) inside to rally past Somelikeithotbrown to win by a half-length in 1:40.50 for the one and one-sixteenth mile turf contest.

“He's a very nice horse,” Geroux said. “No matter where he comes from, inside or outside, he always seems to rally late. Turning for home, he gave me his best run.”

Weekly statistics for Geroux were 29-9-9-2 for a 31 percent win rate and total purse earning of $912,280.

Geroux out-polled fellow riders Brian Hernandez, Jr. with two stakes wins, Miguel Mena who won the Grade 3 Ohio Derby, Jose Ortiz with two graded stakes wins and John Velazquez also with two stakes wins.

Geroux plans to ride full time at Ellis Park this summer with occasional trips to Saratoga or Del Mar.

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Trio Of Stakes Wins Net Juan J. Hernandez Jockey Of The Week Title

Juan J. Hernandez made the most of closing weekend at Santa Anita winning three stakes races leading to Jockey of the Week honors for June 14 through June 20. 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 Saturday, trainer Richard Mandella gave a leg up to regular rider Hernandez on Kanderel in the Siren Lure Stakes at 6-1/2 furlongs on the turf. Breaking from the rail in the field of seven, Kanderel was six lengths off dueling leaders Texas Wedge and Tilted Towers heading to the far turn. With a furlong to run, Kanderel rallied from last to win in 1:14.98.

“I broke from the inside, number one post and Mr. Mandella told me to ride the horse like the last time,” said Hernandez. “My horse, he loves to come from behind. I was saving ground and at the (top of) the stretch, I decided to go outside and make my run.”

On Sunday, closing day at Santa Anita, Hernandez rode heavy favorite Big City Lights for trainer Luis Mendez in the Fasig-Tipton Futurity winning gate-to-wire by 7-1/4 lengths while getting five furlongs in :58.20.

“This horse is improving a lot,” said Hernandez. “Last time he broke a little slow, but today he broke really sharp and I was clear in front, probably three or four jumps after. When I asked him at the quarter pole, he took off again, he's a nice horse.”

Hernandez continued his winning ways by riding Warren's Showtime for trainer Craig Lewis in the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes. Off as the favorite, Hernandez and Warren's Showtime were next to last travelling on the backside. At the top of the stretch, Hernandez took Warren's Showtime four wide to win the one mile turf event by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:34.29.

“We've been knocking on the door the last few times, we were third, second, just missing the winner, but today I think the pace was the key,” said Hernandez who registered his third win of the day. “That was a good pace because she was flying at the end.”

Weekly stats for Hernandez were 24-7-3-2 for 29 percent win rate, 50 percent in-the-money and total purses of $369,886 to lead all jockeys.

Hernandez out-polled Tyler Baze who won two stakes races, Alex Bizer who led all jockeys with 10 wins, Joel Rosario with a graded stakes win and Tim Thornton with a 33 percent strike rate from 24 mounts.

Hernandez finished second in the winter/spring jockey standings with 92 wins and eight graded stakes.

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Bravo Takes Show On Road, Wins Jockey Of The Week With Two Stakes Successes

Joe Bravo made the most of his travels last week. With mounts at Delaware Park in Delaware, Belmont Park in New York and Pimlico race course in Maryland, he won two stakes races to earn Jockey of the Week for June 7 through June 13. 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, Bravo journeyed to Delaware Park for the Obeah Stakes reuniting with the 4-year-old Dream Marie trained by Matthew Williams. Taken back early in the field of seven fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up, Bravo eased Dream Marie outside and advanced five wide at the half mile marker kicking clear in the final sixteenth to win by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:44.40 over a sloppy track, returning $19.40.

“She really likes this course,” said Bravo. “The last time she was on this course she was a very game second a heart-beat from winning. Today, as I was expecting, when she turned for home, she really kicked off nicely.”

After riding at Belmont Park Thursday and Saturday, Bravo travelled to Pimlico on Sunday for the call on Pixelate in the Prince George's County for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles for trainer Michael Stidham. In a field of 11, Bravo rated Pixelate in fifth along the rail outside Alwaysmining. Entering the stretch, Pixelate drove past a tiring Alwaysmining and Logical Myth to win by a length in 1:53.56.

“He was really strong on the first turn,” Bravo said. When we got down the backside he started breathing underneath me and I knew he was comfortable. Turning for home I had to get him outside. Stidham did all the hard work and got him really ready. I want to say thanks to Godolphin.” When asked if he was told anything before riding Pixelate for the first time, Bravo replied, “Don't get beat jock.”

Bravo will be heading west to ride at Santa Anita closing weekend and intends to ride at Del Mar when that meet starts July 16.

Weekly statistics for Bravo were 6-3-1-0 and total purse earnings of $179,880.

For Jockey of the Week, Bravo out polled Stewart Elliott with two stakes wins at Lone Star, Kyle Frey who tied with Charle Oliveros for number of wins for the week with nine, and Jose Ortiz who one a stakes race and was leading jockey by total purse earnings.

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Belmont Racing Festival Success Nets Jose Ortiz Jockey Of The Week Title

Jose Ortiz won two Grade 1 stakes races and a Grade 2 stakes during Belmont Park's Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, earning Jockey of the Week for June 1 through June 6. 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.

While Ortiz was originally scheduled to ride numerous mounts during the three-day Racing Festival, he picked up several more after his brother, Irad, went down in an on-track accident Thursday requiring jockey changes for Friday and Saturday. To everyone's relief, Irad was not seriously injured and is scheduled to return to riding soon. Jose went on to make the most of the mounts he picked up.

On Friday, Ortiz picked up the mount on Firenze Fire for trainer Kelly Breen in the Grade 2 True North at 6-1/2 furlongs. Firenze Fire broke from the rail and engaged Flagstaff for nearly the entire race before prevailing by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:15.52.

“(Irad) said he's a very nice horse and that he was going to break good,” said the replacement Ortiz. “I rode him like he was the best horse and he was the best horse.”

On Saturday, Ortiz was named his brother's replacement on Drain the Clock for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs. Under Ortiz, Drain the Clock broke sharp from post 2 while the favorite, Jackie's Warrior missed the break but was hustled up to take command with Drain the Clock in unrelenting pursuit. Drain the Clock hit the wire in front by a neck. The win was Ortiz's first career Woody Stephens.

“It was a great race, everybody gave their best. I'm just happy we came out with the win and I'm happy filling in for Irad and not messing it up,” said Ortiz.

Later on Saturday, Ortiz picked up Letruska for Fausto Gutierrez in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps for older fillies and mares going 1-1/16 miles on the main track. With Ortiz aboard, Letruska went right to the lead out of the gate, led the other four up the backstretch and opened up to draw off by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:41;25. Ortiz said Letruska would not be denied the lead.

“She was breaking a little slow, but she broke good today. I was able to put her on the lead and make the other horses chase me,” said Ortiz.

Ortiz's weekly statistics were 32-5-5-4 for an in-the-money percentage of 43.7 and total purse earnings of $1,370,764.

For Jockey of the Week honors, Ortiz out-polled Edwin Gonzalez with an in-the-money rate of 62 percent, Flavien Prat with two graded stakes wins, Diego Saenz who was the leading jockey by wins with 10, and Luis Saez who won the Belmont Stakes.

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