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Hollie Doyle Becomes Retained Jockey for Imad Al Sagar

Hollie Doyle has been appointed the retained jockey for Imad Al Sagar of Blue Diamond Stud. Al Sagar has been part owner of Classic-winning colts turned sires Authorized (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Araafa (Ire) (Mull Of Kintyre), as well as MG1SW Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) among others.

“We are thrilled to add Hollie Doyle to our team,” said Al Sagar in a statement. “We have all been impressed with how Hollie has risen to become one of the best of her profession. She is an extremely dedicated, strong and astute jockey. We have some lovely horses to run for us this season and I look forward to Hollie becoming an invaluable member of our team.”

Added Doyle, “I am delighted to be teaming up with Imad Al Sagar for the near future. I hope that we will have plenty of success.”

The Newmarket-based Blue Diamond Stud is home to approximately 45 broodmares and there are an additional 30 horses in training. The aforementioned Decorated Knight is a Blue Diamond stallion based at the Irish National Stud.

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‘Hope To Provide Some Opportunities’: George Bradvica Taking On New Role As Agent For Brice Blanc

George Bradvica, a fixture at management level positions and in racing offices at Santa Anita, Pomona and Del Mar for over 30 years, is tackling a racetrack job that's new to him with characteristic enthusiasm.

On Wednesday, Bradvica agreed to become the agent for jockey Brice Blanc, beginning at Del Mar.

“I contacted 47 trainers by phone today and I start making the rounds in the backstretch tomorrow,” Bradvica said. “I think Brice is a hell of a rider. He's got a reputation for being better on the turf than dirt which I think is unfounded and I don't believe.

“I think he's very good on either surface and I'm going to promote him, and that idea, and give him representation like he hasn't had before. I know I'm not going to change people's minds on the spot, but I hope to provide some opportunities and then the proof will be in the winning.”

Bradvica said he has been around horses since the age of five. His father and uncle owned ranches in Riverside County and he has early memories of a training center there that was home to trainer Rex Ellsworth where he was allowed to do stable work.

Veterinary school at UC Davis didn't work out, but he earned a degree in economics and was hired by Alan Balch to work at Santa Anita in the early 1980s. As an assistant to Balch he was instrumental in innovations like a nightly TV replay show, park and ride arrangements for fans when the track drew upwards of 80,000 on Big 'Cap Days and assisting in operations as the track served as the main equestrian venue -along with Fairbanks Ranch Country Club near Del Mar – for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

England's Prince Phillip, husband to Queen Elizabeth, was the president of the Federation Equestrian Internationale at the time.

“I met him three times,” Bradvica said. “He said it (1984 Olympics) was the best Equestrian event ever. And I'm pretty sure it was the only one ever to make money.”

Bradvica was the general manager for the race meetings at Pomona, which followed the Del Mar summer session, for 20 years and for the last 13 has been in a similar position for the Surfside Race Place satellite facility on the Del Mar Fairgrounds. During the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club meetings he has worked in the racing office and as a placing judge.

“I've never been a jockey agent, but I've gotten to know a lot of them, as well as trainers from working in the racing office,” Bradvica said. “I think this is a natural fit for me and I'm looking forward to it.”

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‘Emotional Moment’: Washington Hall Of Fame Jockey Gutierrez Records 2,000th Victory

Washington Hall of Fame Jockey Juan Gutierrez recorded the 2000th win of his riding career Thursday at Emerald Downs, rallying Semi Sweet from last for a $15.60 upset in the opener.

In fact, Gutierrez swept the first three races on the 11-race card and was choked up in a post-race interview with Joe Withee.

“I feel really good, and it's an emotional moment for me,” he said. “Getting 2,000 wins is great, I always try to be consistent. You can't do something like this without the help of the owners, trainers, grooms and everybody else on the backstretch.”

A 50-year-old native of Jalisco, Mexico, Gutierrez has 1,388 wins at Emerald Downs and is only 31 wins away from equaling Gallyn Mitchell's all-time track record 1,419 wins.

A study in consistency, Gutierrez notched his first Emerald Downs' win April 28, 2000, and during one stretch recorded 13 straight top five finishes in the standings. He captured the 2012 riding title with 117 wins and twice won the Grade 3 Longacres Mile, including a record $122 upset on No Giveaway in 2005.

The 2,000th victory came via a picture-perfect rail-skimming ride, as Semi Sweet overhauled 7 to 5 favorite Gazing past midstretch and drew off by 3 ½ lengths. Gutierrez followed up with victories on Mr. Takahashi ($6.20) and Daffodil Sweet ($3.20) in races two and three, piloting the latter to an easy triumph in the $18,500 allowance feature for fillies and mares.

A 3-year-old Ministers Wild Cat filly, Daffodil Sweet has been awesome in her two starts, scoring by 8 ¾ and 7 ¾ lengths for trainer Chris Stenslie and owners One Horse Will Do Corporation and Steve Shimizu. Thursday, she covered six furlongs in 1:10.62 and powered through the stretch for the victory.

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Jockeys To Resume Riding At Del Mar Without Undergoing New COVID-19 Tests

Del Mar's opening day was delayed when 15 asymptomatic jockeys tested positive for COVID-19 on July 14, but the track expects to resume racing operations this Friday. According to the Daily Racing Form, none of those jockeys will be required to present a new, negative COVID-19 test before returning to Del Mar to ride.

“The guidance from the county is you can return to work in 10 days,” track president Josh Rubinstein told the Daily Racing Form, adding that Del Mar is also following the advice of executives with medical advisers Scripps Health and the CDC.

The positive jockeys were instructed to quarantine, and they will undergo individual evaluations by a track physician, Rubinstein said. Jockeys will now be housed in 10-foot by 10-foot portions of the lower level of the grandstand, to allow for adequate social distancing, and current protocols do not allow for jockeys to work horses in the mornings.

Additionally, Del Mar's new house rule is that jockeys accepting rides at other tracks will not be allowed to return to ride at Del Mar through the end of the meet on Sept. 7.

One of the jockeys named to ride at Del Mar will be Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who told the Daily Racing Form that he has tested negative for COVID-19 on 11 different occasions. Smith rode last Saturday at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, winning the G1 Haskell Stakes aboard the Bob Baffert-trained Authentic.

“I was tested in Jersey on Saturday and when I came back here on Sunday,” Smith told drf.com. “I've been blessed to stay healthy so I could keep going. I'm trying to stay extra fit and make fitness a way of life. It's really paid off.”

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