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Jockeys’ Guild Partners With Colonial Downs

The Jockeys' Guild and Colonial Downs Group 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.

“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.”

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Three Saratoga Stakes Wins Net Flavien Prat Jockey Of The Week Title

Whether riding at the West Coast's premier meet, Del Mar, the East Coast's premier meet, Saratoga, or anywhere in-between, Flavien Prat just wins stakes races. With three stakes wins, two of which were graded, Flavien Prat was voted Jockey of the Week for Aug. 2 through Aug. 8. 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.

Prat rode at Del Mar on Thursday then headed to Saratoga to ride over Whitney weekend. On Friday, trainer Chad Brown called on Prat to ride Public Sector (GB) for the third time in the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes. Sent to the post as the 4-5 favorite in the field of seven 3-year-olds, Public Sector (GB) raced off the pace while saving ground. When a seam opened up along the rail past the sixteenth pole, Public Sector (GB) powered home to win by a length in 1:35.03 over the one mile distance.

“I thought I was going to be able to go around the leader, but then I saw the leader came out and I dropped in and had room,” said Prat. “We were pretty much making the move together but when I really asked him to make the move, he responded really well.”

On Saturday, it was trainer Chad Brown again to give a leg up to Prat on Flavius in the Fasig-Tipton Lure Stakes at 1-1/16-miles on the Mellon turf course for older horses. Breaking from post position five, Flavius went straight to the lead and continued to find more under Prat's encouragement for a one and one-half length win in 1:41.53.

“I didn't see a lot of speed in the race,” Prat said. “I wanted to be in the race and I found myself on the lead. He was travelling super and he kicked on really well.”

To finish the weekend on Sunday, Prat was the pilot on Con Lima, trained by newly minted Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher in the Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational. Breaking from post position five, Con Lima went to the front and held off a late challenge from Higher Truth and Jose Ortiz to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.42 for the 1-3/16 miles on the turf.

“The speed was pretty much me and the Godolphin filly, and it seems she broke a step slow,” said Prat. I broke better than her and I ended up on the lead. She really kicked on well.”

The win marked the 26th graded stakes event for Prat for 2021. He currently ranks second in that category to Joel Rosario who has 31.

Prat's weekly statistics were 11-4-4-0 for an in-the-money percentage of 72.7% and total purses of $674,080. Prat currently sits atop the standings at Del Mar with 21 wins.

For Jockey of the Week, Prat out-polled Corey Lanerie with three stakes wins, Joel Rosario who won the Grade 1 Whitney, Luis Saez with three stakes wins including the Grade 1 Test, and John Velazquez who won the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational.

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Luis Saez Voted Jockey Of The Week After Graded Stakes Double

With two graded stakes wins including the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, Luis Saez was voted Jockey of the Week for July 26 through August 1. 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 at Saratoga, trainer Brad Cox called on regular rider Luis Saez to pilot Champion Essential Quality in the highly anticipated Jim Dandy at nine furlongs. Starting for the first time since his victory in the G1 Belmont Stakes in June, Essential Quality was the heavy favorite in the field of five breaking from post position five. Saez and Essential Quality were four wide into the first turn but within 2-1/2 lengths of the frontrunner Dr Jack. The duo continued four wide into the far turn. As the field turned for home, Saez and Essential Quality made a sweeping outside move to take command at the three-sixteenths, but had to dig-in when challenged by Joel Rosario on Keepmeinmind. It was a race down to the finish line with Essential Quality pulling clear in the shadow of the wire in a final time of 1:49.92.

“I saw him (Keepmeinmind), but I had a lot horse and I knew he was going to finish,” said Saez.

Saez continued his winning ways in the next race, the Grade 2 Bowling Green. Riding for trainer Mike Maker, Saez and defending champion Cross Border were always within striking distance of the early leaders Channel Cat and Channel Maker. Saez angled Cross Border out from the rail out of the final turn to overtake Channel Cat in the final furlong and hit the wire in the front by 1-1/2 lengths in 2:16.36 for the 1-3/8 miles contest.

“He loves it here. This is a special horse that I love riding,” Saez said. “He always tries hard. Today he ran huge. It set up perfect with a good pace.”

Saez's weekly statistics were 41-8-4-6 for a 19.5% win rate and total purse earnings of $860,098 which led all riders. Saez was also leading rider in stakes earnings with $500,825.

Saez out polled fellow riders Corey Lanerie who won the Grade 2 Honorable Miss, Jose Lezcano who won the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Joel Rosario with two stakes wins, and Sheldon Russell with one stakes victory while registering his 1,500th career victory.

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Jaime Rodriguez’ 10 Wins Earn Jockey Of The Week Title

While Jaime Rodriguez usually rides between Delaware Park and Parx, last week he added Pimlico and Penn National posting an impressive 10 wins from 26 mounts to be voted Jockey of the Week for July 19 through July 25. 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.

A native of Puerto Rico, Rodriguez attended the famous Escuela Vocacional Hipica jockey school and has been riding state-side since 2010. He rode primarily at Aqueduct and Belmont before moving his tack to Finger Lakes in 2012 where he dominated the standings while also riding at Mahoning Valley. In 2020, with Finger Lakes delaying their meet because of Covid-19 restrictions, Rodriguez decided to come to the Mid-Atlantic region. The move has paid dividends.

Last year, his first riding at Delaware Park, Rodriguez won 56 races for third in the standings, he rides first call at Delaware Park for leading trainer Jamie Ness.

“If I got a closer, if I got a runner, a turf horse, it really doesn't matter,” Ness said speaking to The Racing Biz. “He's not a one-dimensional rider. I just think he does everything right.”

Rodriguez rode the Ness-trained The King Cheek to a win in the Sir Barton Stakes this year at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard.

“That was an experience,” Rodriguez said. “To win with a horse on Preakness day, that was amazing.”

Rodriguez notched his 1,000th winner on February 21, 2018 at Mahoning Valley. He currently sits atop the standings at Delaware Park with 43 wins. Together with girlfriend, trainer Amber Cobb, he has two children.

“I want to try my talent in different environments,” said Rodriguez in an interview with The Racing Biz. “See how good I can go. I want to fly high and be proud, you know?”

Rodriguez's statistics for the week were 26-10-5-2 for a 65% in-the-money rate and $188,460 in purses.

Other nominees for Jockey of the Week were Victor Carrasco with two stakes wins, Jose L. Ortiz who also won 10 races including two stakes races, Flavien Prat with two stakes wins and Ricardo Santana, Jr. who won the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks.

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