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Five Stakes Wins Net Joel Rosario Jockey Of The Week Title

The New York Racing Association presented 16 stakes races at Saratoga during the week of August 23; Joel Rosario had a mount in every one. He won five of those stakes including two Grade 1s and one Grade 2. His accomplishments earned Jockey of the Week honors for Aug. 23 through Aug. 29. 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.

Rosario's five stakes wins for the week began on Friday, New York Showcase Day. Given a leg up in the Fleet Indian Stakes by trainer Bob Dunham, Rosario and Byhubbyhellomoney tracked in fourth before finding a seam along the rail to post a neck victory in 1:52.07 for the 1-1/8 miles contest for 3-year-old fillies. Rosario won his second straight stakes of the day riding City Man for Christophe Clement in the West Point Handicap for 3-year-olds and up on the turf. City Man ran the 1-1/16 miles in 1:41.30.

On Saturday, trainer Chad Brown saddled three entrants in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa with Rosario on Viadera. Under Rosario, Viadera saved ground in third, advancing up the rail through the final turn then angled to the three-path and dug in to overtake High Opinion and Luis Saez at the wire in a final time of 1:41.82 for the 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for older fillies and mares.

“Turning for home, I was clear,” said Rosario. “She always tries really hard. She's a very good filly.”

In the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, trainer Steve Asmussen gave a leg up to Rosario, regular rider of Jackie's Warrior. Rosario and Jackie's Warrior tracked in second as Life Is Good led the field of 3-year-olds through the half. At the top of the stretch, Jackie's Warrior capitalized on running room from the inside and held off a resurgent Life Is Good to prevail by a neck in 1:21.39.

“I felt confident, but Life is Good was not giving up and a lot of credit to him, too, it was a very good race,” said Rosario.

Rosario captured his second Grade 1 of the day in the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer aboard Gufo for trainer Christophe Clement. Last of seven, the duo saved ground first time past the wire, advancing down the backstretch, rallying outside of Tribuvan and Channel Maker and staving off European invader, Japan, to win by a neck in 2:28.30 for the 1-1/2-mile inner-turf contest.

“He ran a really good race today and turning for home, it was just a really good performance,” said Rosario.

Rosario's weekly statistics were 39-11-2-3 for a 41 percent in-the-money rate and total purses of $1,663,476.

Rosario out-polled Arnaldo Bocachica who won three stakes at Charles Town, Paco Lopez who led all riders in wins with 14, Luis Saez who won the Grade 1 Travers and Ricardo Santana, Jr, who won the Grade 1 Forego with Yaupon.

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James Graham Voted Jockey Of The Week After Mr. D. Stakes Upset

Jockey James Graham made a successful return to Arlington Park last Saturday, winning the Grade 1 Mr. D. Stakes to earn Jockey of the Week honors for Aug. 9 through Aug. 15. 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.

Arlington Park had been home to Graham, a native of Dublin, Ireland, for more than a dozen years before moving his tack to Kentucky tracks and Fair Grounds in Louisiana. He returned on Saturday for the first time since 2018 to ride on what may be Arlington Park's last premier day of racing. Trainer Hugh Robertson, a mainstay at Arlington Park for decades and very familiar with Graham, entered long-shot Two Emmys in the G1 Mr. D. Stakes and gave simple instructions to Graham, “Go to the front and slow it down.”

Graham followed those instructions faithfully.

Breaking from post position four in the field of eight, Graham and Two Emmys went straight to the front and controlled the pace around the first turn and down the backstretch with his half-mile in a pedestrian 52.43 seconds. In upper stretch, Graham asked Two Emmys for his best and held on when confronted late by the favorite Domestic Spending and Flavien Prat to win by a neck in 2:03.34 for the mile and one-quarter turf race.

“When I didn't see anyone behind me at the quarter pole, I knew they would really have to run to catch me,” said Graham. “He's shown he can do it before and he did it today.”

With the win, Graham posted his fifth career G1 win.

Weekly statistics for Graham were 15-2-2-2 for an in-the-money rate of 40 percent and total purses of $407,668.

Other nominees for Jockey of the Week were Alex Birzer with an in-the-money rate of 55 percent, Tyler Gaffalione who won the G1 Fourstardave, Antonio Gallardo with nine wins for the week, and John Velazquez who won two stakes races at Saratoga.

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Jockeys And Jeans Names Elmore Man Of The Year For 2021

Jockeys and Jeans, which has raised over $1.6 million for former jockeys supported by Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, has made Brian Elmore, the Executive Director of the Indiana Horsemen's Protective and Benevolent Association, its 2021 Man of the Year.

“We can think of no one who is more deserving,” said Barry Pearl, president of the all-volunteer group. “He has furthered the cause of severely injured jockeys in many ways.”

Organized in late 2014 by a group of former jockeys, it held its first fundraiser a few weeks later at Tampa Bay Downs in Tampa, Fla., raising $23,000. The event moves each year and Elmore, then the Corporate Vice President of Racing for Indiana Grand Racetrack and Casino in Shelbyville, Ind., was eager to host the 2015 event. It raised over $205,000.

“We learned a lot about fundraising events from Brian and the success invigorated our committee,” said Pearl. “We knew we could fund a significant portion of the PDJF yearly budget. Brian is a valued friend and true mentor.”

Elmore will receive the award at the seventh annual Jockeys and Jeans event at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. on Saturday, Sept.11. Seventeen Hall of Fame jockeys are scheduled to attend and honor seven of their fallen brothers and sisters. The PDJF distributes a monthly stipend of $1,000 to 62 former jockeys who suffered catastrophic, career-ending injuries, with at least 40 either para or quadriplegics.

Elmore has long advocated for jockeys. In 2016, he won the Eddie Arcaro Award, presented by the Jockeys' Guild to a person or group that consistently shows exceptional commitment to jockeys and the organization. Now the Indiana HPBA Executive Director, Elmore enlisted the group to donate $30,000 to PDJF over the last few years. He is also the only Jockeys and Jeans Ambassador that is not an active or former jockey, a position he takes to heart. At the 2019 Jockeys and Jeans fundraiser at Santa Anita, Elmore gave an impassioned speech on the importance of supporting disabled jockeys and cited the death of 17-year-old promising jockey Juan Saez, younger brother of jockey Luis Saez, following an Oct. 15, 2014 racing accident at Indiana Grand Racing and Casino when he headed the track's management team.

“I will never forget the sound the helicopter blades made when it carried him to a trauma ward,” he said. “It was a tough day for his family, the riding colony, and all who knew him. I have a passion for two things; our equine athletes and the jockeys who put their lives on the line every time they race. I feel I have a responsibility to do my best for both of them.”

The event begins in Monmouth Park's Turf Club on Sept. 11 at 11:30 a.m. Tickets cost $75 and may be purchased at seatgeek.com/monmouth. There will be silent auctions of racing-related memorabilia and autograph sessions throughout the course of the event.

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Colonial Downs, Jockeys’ Guild Join In Industry Partnership Agreement

The Jockeys' Guild and Colonial Downs Group announced today they have entered into a long-term industry partnership agreement. Under the terms of the multi-year deal, Colonial Downs® will contribute to the Guild to help subsidize health insurance, life insurance and temporary disability benefits for members who regularly ride at Colonial Downs®, as well as benefits for all jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild and ride in the United States.

Terry Meyocks, President & CEO of the Jockeys' Guild, said, “We truly appreciate our partnership with Colonial Downs® to assist in providing these important benefits for our members. Their on-going efforts to provide a safe racing environment for everyone, as well as this agreement, reinforces the commitment of Colonial Downs® to work together for the betterment of our sport.”

“We sincerely appreciate Colonial Downs® and their support of the Guild and its members,” said Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez, Co-Chairman of the Jockeys' Guild. “They believe in a safe racing environment and our members recognize and appreciate these efforts.”

“The safety of both jockeys and equine athletes is a priority at Colonial Downs®,” said Jill Byrne, Vice-President of Racing Operations at Colonial Downs Racetrack. “Our riders continually compliment the integrity of our surfaces and our proven safety record. This partnership acknowledges and further solidifies our long-term commitment to the horse racing industry.”

“Horse racing is the centerpiece of our business in Virginia and the revival of it can only continue with the support of the industry participants, including the jockeys,” said John Marshall, Executive Vice President of Operations for Colonial Downs Group. “We are honored to have partnered with the Guild as we keep our commitment to building Colonial Downs® into one of the country's premier race meets. This agreement can be a shining example for those in the industry sharing the common interest of improving the integrity of horse racing.”

For more information on Colonial Downs® and the Jockeys' Guild visit:

https://www.colonialdowns.com/racing/

http://www.jockeysguild.com

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