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Jockey Killed in Fall at Oregon Fair

Jockey Eduardo Gutierrez-Sosa, who rode primarily on the mixed-meet circuit in the Pacific Northwest, was killed in the first race of the season at the Crooked River Roundup July 14 when his Quarter Horse mount hit the inner rail and catapulted Gutierrez-Sosa headfirst into the infield, possibly after first hitting the rail.

The Central Oregonian news outlet reported that the fairgrounds grandstand was packed with enthusiastic fans cheering on the return of racing, which had been cancelled last year because of the pandemic. Most were at first unaware that a fatality had occurred. The second race proceeded after a delay of 51 minutes.

But then, according to the Oregonian, the fair's racing director, Doug Smith, took to the public address system to inform the crowd of what had happened, announcing that the remainder of the card would be cancelled out of respect.

Gutierrez-Sosa began riding in Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred races in 2013. In Thoroughbred races, he rode 194 winners from 1,592 starts. He was recently seventh in the standings at Grants Pass Downs for each breed at the Oregon's lone mixed meet at a commercial track.

The horse Gutierrez-Sosa was riding got walked off the track after the incident, according to the Equibase chart.

Crooked River Roundup is also called Prineville Turf Club (the city of Prineville is where the fairgrounds is located). It hosts a four-date evening meet that is scheduled to continue through Saturday.

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Jockey Killed In Racing Accident At Oregon Fair Meet

Jockey Eduardo Gutiérrez Sosa was killed in a Quarter Horse racing accident at the Crooked River Roundup in Prineville, Ore., on Wednesday, according to a report in the Central Oregonian. The veteran rider was aboard 2-year-old Godfather Advice in the first race on the card, and was thrown when his mount hit the inside rail, hitting the rail head first before falling to the ground.

The second race was held after a 30-minute delay, then race director Doug Smith made the announcement over the track's public address system that Gutiérrez Sosa had died as a result of his injuries, and cancelled the remainder of the card. Smith added that he and other members of the Roundup board were heartbroken by the news.

Equibase's race chart indicates that Godfather Advice, trained by Rosa Rodriguez, walked off the track under his own power.

Gutiérrez Sosa was the co-leading rider in the standings at the 2019 Crooked River Roundup meet. The fair meet was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. According to Equibase, Gutiérrez Sosa won 171 Quarter Horse races and 194 Thoroughbred races over a career that began in 2013.

Racing at Crooked River is scheduled to resume on Thursday, July 15.

Emerald Downs: Jockey Alex Cruz Has Ridden At Least One Winner On 44 Straight Cards

At Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash., 28-year-old jockey Alex Cruz has quietly been building a record streak of horse racing victories. According to the Seattle Times, Cruz has won at least one race on 44 straight race days at Emerald Downs, annihilating the track's previous record of 30 days with a win set by Kevin Radke in 2003.

Hall of Fame jockey Chris Antley set a streak of 64 race days with at least one win in 1989, though he was often riding at two tracks a day.

Cruz's streak hit 25 days by the end of the 2020 season at Emerald Downs, and on opening day this year the jockey was afraid he might not extend it. By the afternoon's eighth and final race, Cruz still had not gotten his victory for the day.

“I was afraid, because I was so close (to the record),” Cruz told the Seattle Times. “I was getting second and second and second, and I was, 'Oh my gosh, I am going to lose this chance to beat the record.' The horse (5-1 chance Queen Breezy) just took the lead, and he had never showed speed before … I crossed the wire, and I was just laughing. 'How? How did I do this?' “

Cruz has told his agent David “Marbles” Singer that his goal is to best Antley's record.

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.

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