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Kazushi Kimura to Spend Winter in Saudi Arabia

Grade I-winning jockey Kazushi Kimura, who was named the 2019 Eclipse Award Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, will spend the winter of 2020/21 riding primarily for Prince Sultan bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz in Saudi Arabia, he confirmed to the TDN on Sunday.

“Yes,” Kimura told the TDN regarding his Saudi Arabian posting. “I’m gonna ride in Saudi Arabia until the middle of March, then I will be back to Woodbine before the opening day.”

Kimura, who was also Canada’s Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in 2018, celebrated four graded winners in 2020 led by Gretzky the Great (Nyquist) in the GI Summer S. His other graded victories include Lady Grace (Kantharos) and Artie’s Princess (We Miss Artie) at Grade II level and Field Pass (Lemon Drop Kid) in the GIII Ontario Derby. From 2,152 total mounts, the Japanese-born reinsman has booted home 337 winners (16%) with an in-the-money percentage of 44%. His mounts’ earnings stand at $11,163,055 in North America.

Through Jan. 3, Kimura has already had two rides at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh. Kimura rode the unplaced G K Chesterton (Ire) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) for Nawa Faihaan Almundeel on New Year’s Day. His first run for his patron Prince Sultan bin Mishal was a 13th aboard Shuman (KSA) (Commissioner) in a local maiden on Jan. 2. However, it is surely only a matter of time before the young jockey returns to the winner’s circle.

“Yes, I’ve been getting good experience [in Saudi Arabia] so far,” the 21-year-old added.

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Valet and Former Jockey Luis Leon Passes Away

A popular jockeys’ room valet and former jockey, Luis Leon passed away peacefully Tuesday evening at age 90, according to his son David. He suffered a heart attack recently and succumbed to the effects of the COVID-19 virus while hospitalized. Leon is survived by his wife Juanita, a daughter Sylvia and four sons, Louis, Jr., David, Mike and Victor. Services are pending.

Born Sept. 7, 1930 in Fresno, California, Leon became a contract rider with Rex Ellsworth in the 1950s and 60s. While working under Hall of Fame trainer Mesh Tenney, Leon was nicknamed “The Cheetah.”

As a valet, his services were in keen demand and he worked for a number of top riders over the years including Eddie Delahoussaye, Patrick Valenzuela, Martin Pedroza, Aaron Gryder, Rafael Meza, David Flores and many others.

Following his retirement from the jockeys’ room, Leon and his wife lived on his ranch southeast of San Diego.

The post Valet and Former Jockey Luis Leon Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Ricardo Gonzalez Wins First Grade 1, Voted Jockey Of The Week

Ricardo “Ricky” Gonzalez's decision to move his tack from Northern California to Southern California was a decision that brought him his first career Grade 1 win and Jockey of the Week honors for the week of Dec. 21 through Dec. 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.

Trainer Eoin Harty gave Gonzalez a leg up on Fair Maiden in the G1 La Brea for 3-year-old fillies on Santa Anita's opening day. Off at odds of 20-1 and seventh of 10 in the early portion of the seven-furlong race, she gained ground on the far turn, kicking clear to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:22.69.

“I've been watching Ricky since he came down here and I think he's the next superstar,” said Harty.

On his first career G1 win Gonzalez remarked, “I was just so happy and excited, just to ride these kinds of horses, it feels great. I am very thankful to Eoin and all the trainers for all the opportunities.”

In the final stakes of opening day, Gonzalez was aboard Nasty for trainer Richard Baltas in the one mile Lady of Shamrock Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Nasty took a commanding lead in the first half of the turf contest and held off a furious rally from East Coast invader Counterparty Risk for the win.

A native of Sinaloa, Mexico, Gonzalez came to the United States in 2013 first to Turf Paradise. He soon moved his tack to Golden Gate Fields where he rode regularly until this summer beginning with the Del Mar meet where he rode 16 winners.

Gonzalez's weekly stats were 10-2-1-3 with purse earnings of $257,160.

Gonzalez out-polled fellow riders Flavien Prat who won two stakes at Santa Anita, Mike Smith who also won two stakes races at Santa Anita, Jevian Toledo with three stakes wins at Laurel and Edgard Zayas who led all jockeys in wins with nine.

The post Ricardo Gonzalez Wins First Grade 1, Voted Jockey Of The Week appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Jockey Angel Suarez Suffers Broken Femur In Fair Grounds Spill

Jockey Angel Suarez has undergone successful surgery to repair a broken femur suffered during a spill at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, La. on Saturday, the Puerto Rico native reported via Twitter on Sunday.

“Thanks everybody for the calls, txts and prayers,” Suarez wrote. “So many people reaching out with so many good wishes made my eyes tear you guys are amazing, thank you all.”

The incident occurred during Saturday's 10th race, when Suarez' mount Kehron's Creed was unable to avoid a stricken rival, Caramel Latte, at the five-sixteenths pole. Kehron's Creed returned to her feet and walked off the track under her own power, according to Equibase, while no news was provided on Caramel Latte.

An Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding apprentice jockey in 2012, Suarez has ridden 710 winners from 5,030 starters in his career.

Suarez made a few of the more bizarre headlines in racing history in 2014. The jockey faced criminal charges after he broke into two apartments in Bensalem, Penn., under the influence of an unknown substance. Though Suarez does not remember the night, he was spotted half-naked, climbing the second story balcony of a woman's apartment. He seized her dog and exited, leaping off the balcony. He then broke into another unit, where he was shot twice by a man babysitting a toddler.

Suarez underwent surgery for damage to his liver and pancreas, and was in a medically-induced coma for a week. He returned to the saddle in 2016, and was ranked in the top 100 jockeys by wins in both 2018 and 2019.

“There are a lot of people out there who are only looking out for themselves,” Suarez told Doug McCoy of The Racing Biz in 2018. “You have to learn who you're real friends are. It's been my true friends and family that's helped me pull through this. I've been lucky enough to be given a second chance in life and I'm trying to make the most of that chance.”

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