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Jockey Justin Stein Rides Six Winners Friday At Woodbine

The hot-handed Justin Stein was a force to be reckoned with on Friday at Woodbine Racetrack, winning six races during the afternoon program.

Stein, who had eight mounts on the nine-race card, started his winning crusade in the second race by reeling off four consecutive victories in rein to San Nicola Brew ($14.60) for trainer Sarah Ritchie, Bala Falls ($6.30) for Elizabeth Elder, Interesting Times ($10.50) for Tim Rycroft and Make No Mistake ($5.90) for Zeljko Krcmar.

The multiple graded stakes-winning jockey later went back-to-back winning the seventh and eighth races to cap off his six-win performance aboard the Sylvain Pion-trained Power House ($11.10) and Sam Di Pasquale's Piccadilly Beau ($6.90).

Stein is the first jockey to record six wins on a single card at the 2020 Woodbine meet. Recently, Eurico Rosa Da Silva accomplished the feat three times in 2019. Prior to that, Luis Contreras won six races on two occasions (2011 and 2013).

Stein, who returned to action in 2019 after a short-lived retirement, won 52 races ranking seventh in the Woodbine jockey standing last year and is currently the second-leading jockey with 56 wins so far at the 2020 Woodbine meet.

The 40-year-old reinsman, whose career highlights include a victory in the 2012 Queen's Plate in rein to Strait of Dover, has won more than 1,100 races lifetime.

Live Thoroughbred racing continues at Woodbine on Saturday, featuring the $100,000 Eternal Search Stakes. First race post time is set for 1 p.m.

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Derby Jockeys: With Several Big Names Staying Home, Kentucky Riders Get A Shot In The Big Dance

In a normal year, jockeys would be hard-pressed to miss their flights to Louisville for a chance to ride in the Kentucky Derby. Obviously, 2020 has been anything but a normal year, with the coronavirus pandemic pushing the Run for the Roses back to Sept. 5 and drawing up jockey travel restrictions all around the United States.

Last week, Churchill Downs announced that riders wanting to participate in the Derby will have to arrive in the state of Kentucky by Aug. 31, and participate in several additional coronavirus precautions.

As such, a number of prominent U.S. jockeys won't be making the trip to Kentucky. Jose and Irad Ortiz will both stay in New York, as will Joel Rosario, reports the Daily Racing Form, and last year's Derby winner Flavien Prat will stay in Southern California.

Those choices have opened the doors for Kentucky-based riders to have a chance to pick up a mount in the Derby.

Here's a look at the current 3-year-olds pointing to the Kentucky Derby, and their jockeys (plus state in which they are based), in order of points earned.

Tiz the Law – Manny Franco (New York) – 372
Authentic – John Velazquez (New York) – 200
Art Collector – Brian Hernandez, Jr. (Kentucky) – 150
Honor A. P. – Mike Smith (California) – 140
Ny Traffic – TBD (last ridden by Paco Lopez) – 110
King Guillermo – Samy Camacho (Florida) – 90
Thousand Words – Florent Geroux (Kentucky) – 83
Dr Post – TBD (last ridden by Joe Bravo) – 80
Max Player – Ricardo Santana, Jr. (Kentucky) – 60
Caracaro – TBD (last ridden by Javier Castellano) – 60
Enforceable – Adam Beschizza (Kentucky) – 43
Rushie – TBD (last ridden by Javier Castellano) – 40
Major Fed – James Graham (Kentucky) – 38
Storm the Court – Julien Leparoux (Kentucky) – 36
Attachment Rate – Joe Talamo (Kentucky) – 35
Sole Volante – Luca Panici (Florida) – 30
Finnick the Fierce – TBD (last ridden by Jose Ortiz) – 25
Winning Impression – Joe Rocco, Jr. (Kentucky) – 20
Necker Island – Mitchell Murrill (Kentucky) – 14
Shirl's Speight – Rafael Hernandez (Canada) – 0
Money Moves – TBD (last ridden by Luis Saez) – 0

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Canterbury Stewards Recommend Five-Year Suspension For Rider Discovered With Buzzer And Gun

Canterbury Park stewards have handed a one-year suspension to jockey Denny Velazquez after a buzzer and a loaded gun were found during a search of his vehicle on track property.

The stewards also issued Velazquez a $10,000 fine.

The ruling came after a hearing during which the stewards presented nine exhibits and heard testimony from Velazquez.

Those penalties were the maximum available to the stewards by Minnesota statute.

The stewards have referred the case on to the Minnesota Racing Commission, which has the authority to issue a longer suspension and a larger fine. The stewards recommended the commission suspend Velazquez for five years and increase the fine to $50,000.

The ruling stated the presence of the gun and the buzzer “call into question the honesty and integrity of horse racing and the safety, health and welfare of the participants and the general public at Canterbury Park.”

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Japan Relaxes Strict Criteria For Short-Term Jockey Licenses In Hopes Of Drawing Female Riders

French riding sensation Mickaelle Michel's chances of riding regularly on Japan's premier circuit have received a major boost after the strict qualifying criteria for short-term licenses were relaxed.

At the end of the summer, Michel plans to return to the Far East to sit the first part of the JRA license course for a permanent license.

She was a massive hit in Japan earlier this year when she set a new record of wins by a visiting jockey on a short-term license on the second-tier National Association of Racing.

Japan now wants to encourage more elite women jockeys like her to participate in its racing and this week announced a different set of eligibility rules to those for men, who must either be champions of their country or winners of G1 races like the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, for a short-term license.

“It's fantastic news,” said Michel's partner and agent Frederic Spanu. “It means Mickaelle can make an application for the JRA short-term license. She is so happy and excited.

“But she will also take the test for a permanent JRA license on September 29 – if obviously we can get on the plane.”

To qualify, jockeys from the UK and France must be the leading female in their country in either of the last two seasons, have ridden more than ten winners and ranked in the top 50 for prize-money, or ridden a G1 winner. There are similar criteria for riders from the USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Hong Kong and New Zealand. Only five short-term licenses will be granted at any one time.

In Japan, Nanako Fujita is the only female jockey riding the JRA circuit but more females are entering the jockey school and the governing body wants more role models for them.

A spokesman for the JRA said: “The purpose of this rule introduction is to create a better open environment for more female jockeys to take part in our races.

“We currently have a number of female students at our racing school. By introducing a separate criteria for overseas female jockeys to ride in Japan, we hope that the best female jockeys will be able to get a short-term licence and hopefully be great role models for the females in Japan and influence them to become a jockey as well as having a positive impact in the Japanese horse racing industry.”

Michel was sponsored by the powerful Shadai Farm on her last trip to Japan where visiting jockeys must also find an owner and trainer to support them.

She will also need coronavirus restrictions to be lifted as Japan is currently not allowing foreigners into the country due to COVID-19.

This article was reprinted with permission from Horse Racing Planet. You can find more of their content here.

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