Jockey's Guild | Horse Racing Free Tips

Hernandez Jr. Takes Two Stakes, Earning Him Jockey Of The Week Title

After two stakes victories at Fair Grounds on “The Road to the Derby Kickoff Day,” Brian Hernandez Jr. was voted Jockey of the Week for January 11 through January 17. 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 Chris Block gave Hernandez, Jr. a leg up on Charlie's Penny in the Silverbulletday Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Dismissed at odds of 9.20-1, Charlie's Penny sat a clear stalking trip behind the pacesetter Littlestitious, then rallied on the turn for home and went on score an authoritative 3-1/4-length win.

“She was able to get herself in a nice position quickly,” Hernandez Jr. said. Going around the first turn and then once she got outside she travelled nicely with her ears up the whole way. She was there for me. I just had to be a good passenger.”

Riding for trainer Dallas Stewart in the Grade 3 Louisiana Stakes for 4-year-olds and up, Hernandez Jr. had the mount on Title Ready. A clear fourth in the early going, Title Ready rallied on the turn for home, then closed strongly to take the lead and drew away to win by 1-1/4 lengths.

“You know coming out of two Grade 1's, he's not chasing Authentic and those horses around there today,” Hernandez Jr. explained. “We thought that if he broke good and got himself in the race, it would benefit him.”

The Louisiana native is the son of retired jockey Brian Joseph Hernandez. Hernandez Jr. was awarded the Eclipse Award as Outstanding Apprentice in 2004 and is a multiple graded stakes winning jockey. He rides the Kentucky circuit and Fair Grounds in the winter. His younger brother, Colby, is also a jockey.

Weekly stats for Hernandez, Jr. were 23-5-6-1. He led all jockeys by total purse earnings of $326,840.

Hernandez Jr. out-polled fellow riders Antonio Gallardo who won two stakes races at Tampa Bay, Irad Ortiz, Jr. who led all jockeys by wins with 10, Umberto Rispoli who won two stakes at Santa Anita and Sheldon Russell who won three stakes races at Laurel.

The post Hernandez Jr. Takes Two Stakes, Earning Him Jockey Of The Week Title appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Kato Named Jockey Of The Week After Uniquely Historic Win At Turf Paradise

Akifumi Kato's amazing record of posting at least one win each year for 50 consecutive years was such a unique achievement it earned the journeyman Jockey of the Week honors for Jan. 4 through Jan. 10. 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.

Currently riding at Turf Paradise, the unique milestone was celebrated on Jan. 8 when Kato won the fifth race aboard She's A Lady Griz which was also his 69^th birthday. The win was made even more special as the winner is trained by Kato's daughter, Kaylyn Kato.

Kato was born in Japan to a jockey turned trainer. After winning his first race in the United States at Ferndale Fair in northern California, Kato rode primarily at Playfair in Spokane, Wash., where he was the all-time leader with 1,104 victories including two riding titles and four victories in the Playfair Mile. He is also the only active jockey to post victories at Washington's other racetracks, Longacres, Yakima Meadows and Emerald Downs in addition to Playfair. He also rode at Portland Meadows.

A member of the Jockeys' Guild for 49 years, Kato's career stats to date include 19,983 mounts with 2,034 wins and $6,360,226 in purse earnings.

Kato out-polled fellow riders Kendrick Carmouche who won a stakes races at Aqueduct, Manny Franco with a stakes victory at Aqueduct, Umberto Rispoli who won the Grade III La Canada at Santa Anita and Drayden Van Dyke who won the Grade 3 Kalookan Queen at Santa Anita.

The post Kato Named Jockey Of The Week After Uniquely Historic Win At Turf Paradise appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Trio Of Graded Wins Nets Joel Rosario Jockey Of The Week Title

Joel Rosario captured all three graded stakes events at Santa Anita leading to Jockey of the Week honors for Dec. 28 through Jan. 3. 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 started the new year on Friday aboard Hembree in the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes for trainer Peter Miller. Racing last about 6-1/2 lengths off the lead in the turf contest, Rosario hugged the rail and slipped through a narrow opening three sixteenths of mile out and unleashed a powerful stretch run repelling a late challenge from True Valour to cover the 6-1/2 furlongs in 1:13.80.

“He broke well and I thought we were in a good spot, not too far off the lead,” said Rosario. “He made a nice move around the turn and when that other horse came to him, he tried very hard.”

“Brilliant, it really was just a fantastic ride by Joel, that's why he is one of the best,” said Miller.

Peter Miller again gave Rosario a leg up Saturday on Anothertwistafate in the G2 San Gabriel Stakes at 1-1/8 miles on the turf. Anothertwistafate took command in mid-stretch en route to a 2-1/4 length victory stopping the clock in 1:46.63.

“It was the first time with blinkers today and he broke really quick out of there,” said Rosario. “Having the blinkers helped, he was more focused today.”

Riding for trainer Bob Baffert in the G2 Santa Ynez aboard Kalypso on Sunday, Rosario and the newly turned three-year-old filly were in total command turning for home asserting her dominance over the field of six by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:23.42.

“She broke good and put me right into the race, a good position,” said Rosario who won his third stakes race through five days of racing. “I'm just happy to be on her.”

A native of the Dominican Republic, Rosario currently sits in second place in the Santa Anita standings through the first five days of their Winter-Spring meet.

Rosario posted a 30 percentage win percentage and was leading jockey by purse earnings with $554,900.

Rosario out-polled fellow jockeys Florent Geroux who won nine races from 20 starts, Mitchell Murrill who led all jockeys by wins with 10, Irad Ortiz, Jr. who won three stakes at Gulfstream Park and Juan J. Hernandez who won eight races during the week.

The post Trio Of Graded Wins Nets Joel Rosario Jockey Of The Week Title appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

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.

Source of original post