Mark Casse, Kazushi Kimura Earn Titles At Woodbine; Patrick Husbands Contemplates Retirement

It was a fitting result for Woodbine's leading trainer Mark Casse on Sunday, as Sir Winston and Frosted Over went one-two, respectively, in the Grade 3 $155,700 Valedictory Stakes on the final card of the 2021 Thoroughbred season at the Toronto oval. The Woodbine meet also concluded with a record setting handle of $8,530,593.

Jockey Patrick Husbands guided 8-5 choice, Sir Winston, to a game score in the 1 ½-mile Tapeta test, edging stablemate Frosted Over by a hard-fought half-length to take all the spoils in the event for three-year-olds and upward.

The final time was 2:31.51.

Husbands, one of Woodbine's most successful and decorated riders, was emotional after the race, noting that he will contemplate retirement over the winter months.

“I want to say thanks to Mark…time out,” said Husbands, who teamed with Casse to net the most jockey-trainer stakes victories at the meet with 10. “I had a hard week. I texted Mark around 11:30 on Wednesday night and Mark returned my call Thursday morning and I would not answer the phone. I said, 'Mark, I'm done.' And he said, 'You can't do this, Patrick. You can't go out like this. You have to let Woodbine know that you are finished.' In my heart, I want to be here. I wanted to make today, right now, my last ride at Woodbine. Woodbine was great to me. But Mark told me I had the whole winter to think about it. I tip my hat off to Mark. He was there for me from day one. Everyone was there for me through my injuries. So, I will think about it through the winter.”

Whatever his decision, the Barbados-born champion rider, who has won some of Canada's biggest races, including the 2003 Canadian Triple Crown with Wando, will look back fondly on his Valedictory victory.

“From looking at the racing form, there's not really much speed in the race, and drawn so wide, I want to cut the first corner,” said Husbands, who now has a record five Valedictory crowns. “I never had ridden him in my life yet and all the years riding at Woodbine, Mark never gave me instructions. He hired me to do a job and we've been successful all these years. So, I made sure I can get him out of there, cut the first turn and then play it by ear, and he relaxed right off the bat.”

Bred and owned by Tracy Farmer, Sir Winston, a 5-year-old son of Awesome Again, paid $5.30 for the win.

Kazushi Kimura earned his first Woodbine jockey crown – the first Japanese-born rider to achieve the feat – with 138 wins at the meet, while his mounts earned $6,360,203 million.

“It's a special achievement, and it was one of my dreams,” said the 22-year-old Kimura. “Everybody wants to be a leading rider, but it's not easy. We just need great riding skills and good horses, good support from the trainers and owners for the whole season to be able to get the title. This year, I'd say I improved, and I got good support from trainers and owners. I appreciate that help for me to get the riding title.”

Born in Hokkaido, Kimura joined the Woodbine jockey colony as a 19-year-old apprentice in 2018 and made a strong first impression. He finished his first Woodbine campaign sixth in the standings with 89 wins and his mounts totaled more than $2.3 million in earnings. His first victory came aboard 70-1 longshot Tornado Cat, and his first stakes win came aboard Speedy Soul in the Muskoka. The Eclipse Award winner as North America's outstanding apprentice, Kimura also won the Sovereign Award equivalent in both 2018 and 2019.

His Woodbine successes include Gretzky the Great (Grade 1 Summer Stakes) and Lady Grace (Grade 2 Royal North). Another local highlight was his second-place finish aboard Magnetic Charm, owned by Queen Elizabeth II, in the 2019 Canadian Stakes.

This year, Kimura won eight stakes at the Toronto oval, including Corelli in the Grade 3 Singspiel, Our Secret Agent in the Grade 3 Hendrie, Frosted Over in the Grade 3 Ontario Derby and Swinging Mandy in the Victorian Queen.

Mark Casse topped the trainer leaderboard for the 13th time courtesy of 110 wins. Martin Drexler took second spot in the standings with 56 wins, while Kevin Attard was third with 55 victories. Casse led all conditioners in purse earnings with $8,189,186, followed by Attard and Josie Carroll.

Highlights were many for Casse, who recorded 27 Woodbine stakes victories, 19 more than his closest rival.

A lifetime winner of 3,226 races, the dual Hall of Fame horseman has plenty of reasons to be thrilled with his 2021 campaign, Woodbine and beyond.

“For us, not just in Toronto, and all over, it's been a really good year. I'm excited because we have a lot of nice young prospects too with God of Love winning the Grey and Cup and Saucer, Mrs. Barbara winning the Mazarine, Golden Glider – those kinds of horses. The horse I ran on Saturday at Woodbine, Sir for Sure, he's a maiden, but he's a really nice horse, and it will be fun to watch him going long next year.”

When did Casse know it was going to be a prosperous campaign?

“You never know. I'm kind of like the gambler playing poker. I never count my money when I'm sitting at the table.”

Casse has high praise for his team at Woodbine.

“We have wonderful people that have been with us for a long time. They are very dedicated and passionate in what they do, day in and day out. A lot of people might not know, but our entire staff are all Canadians. This was a trying year for everybody because of the late start, but we made sure the horses were ready.”

Casse is hopeful the 2022 Woodbine racing season brings with it a return to normalcy.

“Our season is geared towards Woodbine. Obviously, we run at different places, but over the years, we've built up a strong Canadian group, not just in horses, but owners. They want to see their horses and get out there and enjoy the racing, so hopefully, in 2022, we can all have the type of year everyone is used to.”

Before the start of the new season here, Casse, a 13-time Sovereign Award winner as Canada's outstanding trainer, will continue to speak highly of his attachment to Woodbine.

“Wherever I go, Woodbine and my name seem to go hand-in-hand. And that is something I am very proud of.”

Gary Barber was the leading money-winning owner of the meet for the third straight campaign, followed by Live Oak Plantation and Ivan Dalos.

Live Thoroughbred racing will return to Woodbine next spring, opening day tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 22, 2022, while Standardbred racing will continue to run four days a week at Woodbine Mohawk Park all-year-round.

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Champion Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. Sets His Sights On Fourth Straight Championship Meet Title

Having won more races at a single Championship Meet than any jockey in history, Irad Ortiz Jr. returns to Gulfstream Park for the 2021-2022 season with his sights set on a fourth straight riding title.

Already, the 29-year-old Ortiz is in elite company as one of just four riders to lead the country's premiere winter meet standings three consecutive years, along with Jeff Fell (1977-79), Jorge Chavez (1999-2001) and Javier Castellano. Hall of Famer Castellano won a record five straight before being unseated by Luis Saez in 2016-17.

Ortiz ended Saez's two-year reign to start his own streak in 2018-2019 and, after flirting with Saez's single-season standard of 137 wins that year before ending with 135, surpassed it in dramatic fashion by guiding Known Agenda to a 2 ¾-length upset of the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farm at Xalapa for No. 138.

Represented by agent Steve Rushing, Ortiz would finish with 140 wins including the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) with Colonel Liam who, like Known Agenda, is trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher. They also teamed up with Fearless in the WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile (G2), Con Lima in the Herecomesthebride (G3) and Always Shopping in the La Prevoyante (G3).

In all, Ortiz won 14 stakes last winter including the Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3) on Mischevious Alex. On Feb. 6, he won six of 12 races, one victory shy of the single-day track record shared by Saez, Tyler Gaffalione, Paco Lopez and Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey.

“It was a great meet last year for me. What I can I say?” Ortiz said. “I have to say thank you to all the people for their help. Without their help and their support, it wouldn't be possible, honestly. I want to go and have fun and enjoy my time there. It's great weather, it's great racing and, hopefully, we can do it again.”

Ortiz heads to Gulfstream off a November to remember that began at Del Mar, where he earned his fourth straight Bill Shoemaker Award as top jockey during the Breeders' Cup World Championships following wins in the Dirt Mile (G1), Turf Sprint (G1) and Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2). He also finished second in the Turf (G1).

From there he returned to New York and won three more stakes including the Red Smith (G2). On Nov. 23, he won three stakes at Zia Park in New Mexico for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, including the Zia Park Derby and Oaks; went to Kentucky for the Clark (G1) where he finished off the board with Pletcher's Dr Post; and was back in California to ride for regular client Chad Brown. While there, he won the Jimmy Durante (G3) for a second straight year.

“I've been doing good, thank God. My agent does a great job,” Ortiz said. “Those are three great trainers and three people that we ride for. We went and did the best we could and I'm happy.”

Ortiz has been voted the Eclipse Award as North America's champion jockey each of the last three years, and will be prominent in the discussion again in 2021. Entering December, he ranked first in North America in wins (327) and has won 57 stakes, 33 of them graded, including 10 Grade 1 races. He was second to Joel Rosario in purses earned with $28,534,585 and holds the single-season mark of $34.1 million set in 2019.

This year marks Ortiz's seventh straight with at least 300 wins and eighth in a row topping $20 million in purse earnings. He picked up his 3,000th career victory Oct. 7 at Belmont Park on Saratoga Kisses for owner-trainer Rudy Rodriguez, a total that included 92 wins in his native Puerto Rico, according to Equibase.

“When you ride against the best, you learn. You learn a lot,” Ortiz said. “I like those kinds of races. When you're riding against the best jockeys in the world you learn a lot from them even when you get beat. We have some experience from that, and that makes you better.”

Following the 2020-2021 Championship Meet, Ortiz finished second during Belmont Park's spring meet by two wins to younger brother, Jose, as well as to Saez at Saratoga. Winner of the Belmont fall meet by a single victory over his sibling, Ortiz was tied with Jose Lezcano atop Aqueduct's fall meet standings.

“I feel good,” Ortiz said. “I want to go [to Gulfstream] and have the same support from the trainers and owners, I hope. I know if I have the same support they've given me that I can do something. I feel positive. I'm looking forward to it.”

The 87-day Championship Meet featuring 76 stakes, 37 graded, worth $14.26 million in purses opens Friday and runs through Sunday, April 3.

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Chad Brown Records Tenth Straight Belmont Fall Title; Irad Ortiz Tops Jockey Standings

Chad Brown registered 29 wins to earn his 10th consecutive title at the recently concluded Belmont Park fall meet, while Irad Ortiz, Jr. won three races on Closing Day to pace all jockeys with 33 victories during the 31-day meet.

Inflation Adjusted's win in Sunday's 10th race finale gave Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables its eighth win of the meet, which broke a three-way logjam allowing Klaravich to become leading owner of the Belmont Park fall meet for the fifth consecutive year. Flying P Stable and Michael Dubb each finished with seven wins over the course of the fall meet.

Brown extended his dominance of the Belmont fall meet, posting a record of 29-22-18 from 111 starters with earnings of more than $3.7 million. The four-time Eclipse Award-winner for Outstanding Trainer has won at least a share of the Belmont fall meet every year since 2012. Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher concluded the fall meet with 16 wins. Christophe Clement and Linda Rice registered 16 wins each to tie for third.

NYRA's year-ending leading trainer six years running, Brown saddled eight graded stakes winners at the fall meet, racking up a pair of Grade 1 scores when Rockemperor captured the $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on October 9 and Jack Christopher won the $500,000 Champagne on October 2. Brown also sent out Public Sector [Grade 2 Hill Prince], Fluffy Socks [Grade 2 Sands Point], Royal Flag [Grade 2 Beldame], My Sister Nat, [Grade 3 Fasig-Tipton Waya] Pocket Square [Grade 3 Athenia] and Sacred Life (Grade 3 Knickerbocker) to graded stakes victories. Shantisara won the $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational.

“I have to just thank my team, my owners and the horses,” Brown said. “Those are the three real key parts to the whole success and I'm very fortunate in all three areas to have the best. I have great horses to work with and terrific owners and a really super talented team and they deserve all the credit.”

Entering Closing Day, a three-way tie for the riding crown set up an exciting slate, with Ortiz, Jr., Luis Saez and Jose Ortiz all tied with 30 wins. But Ortiz, Jr. won three races, guiding Carom to a victory in Race 3, leading the Brown-trained Orglandes to victory in the $150,000 Zagora in Race 4 and winning aboard Big Package in an allowance optional claiming race in Race 8 that proved to the be the difference in the standings.

The 29-year-old Ortiz, Jr. finished with a 33-35-28 record in 177 mounts with earnings of $3.56 million. His brother, Jose Ortiz, challenged him for supremacy up until the final race, finishing second with 32 wins while Saez, who won aboard Rockefeller in the Grade 3, $150,000 Nashua in Race 9, was third with 31 wins.

“It feels great and it's always special every time I win a title in New York,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “This is my hometown. I'm happy, I thank my owners, trainers, my agent for doing a great job and I'm also thankful to stay healthy.”

Ortiz, Jr. was aboard for Brown-trained winners Public Sector and Pocket Square and also racked up wins with Annapolis [Grade 2 Pilgrim], Life Is Good [Grade 2 Kelso], Bubble Rock [Grade 3 Matron] and Arrest Me Red [Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational].

“We always compete no matter what,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “We try to do our best out there so thankfully it paid off with hard work and dedication.”

For the meet, Klaravich Stables posted a record of 8-8-8 from 40 starters, tallying earnings of $894,549.

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Marcelino Pedroza Wins Third Leading Rider Title At Indiana Grand; Andrea Rodriguez Leading Apprentice

Marcelino Pedroza Jr. has been on a mission the last week of racing at Indiana Grand. Already way ahead in the jockey standings, Pedroza completed the four-day work week with an additional 10 wins to earn his third Leading Thoroughbred Jockey Award in Indiana.

Pedroza was honored in the winner's circle following the sixth race on closing day with the award. He also brought home the title in 2017 and 2019.

“It's always great to win races and it's a great feeling to win the title,” said Pedroza, who was flanked by his family for the trophy presentation. “Thank you to all the owners and trainers that supported me and to my beautiful family, who have been with me when we weren't winning races.”

Pedroza scored 105 wins during the meet, more than 20 more than second place finisher DeShawn Parker. With purse earnings in excess of $3.2 million for the year, he moves into third place on the list of all-time leading riders at the track with more than 640 career wins. He also holds several riding records with most purse money in one season ($3.4 in 2019), most wins by a jockey in one day (6 in 2019), and now joins Orlando Mojica, Leandro Goncalves and Rodney Prescott for most jockey titles at the track with three.

“I've been riding Fair Grounds and Indiana Grand the past few years and that's worked out well for me,” added Pedroza. “I plan to go back to Fair Grounds (New Orleans, La.) and hopefully do well there again and hopefully be back here again next year.”

A native of Panama, Pedroza Jr. attended the Laffit Pincay Jr. Jockey Academy before venturing to the United States in 2010. Now a Graded Stakes winning jockey, Pedroza celebrated his 1,000th career victory last year and has more than 1,200 career wins with earnings of more than $32 million.

Andrea Rodriguez has worked many hours to become a jockey. Her hard work has paid off this year as she was the recipient of the eighth annual Juan Saez Leading Apprentice Jockey at Indiana Grand for 2021. The award is named in honor of Juan Saez, who passed away following a racing incident in 2014. Saez was the Leading Apprentice at Indiana Grand that same year.

A native of Puerto Rico, Rodriguez attended her country's famed Escuela Vocacional Hipica Agustin Mercado Reveron Jockey School at Camarero Race Track outside of San Juan. After winning her first race at Camarero, she ventured to the United States in 2019 with a short stint in the saddle before stopping and working as an exercise rider. While galloping for Trainer Ian Wilkes, she decided to give a career as a jockey one more try.

“Trainer Ian Wilkes is the one that pushed me back to riding at Turfway Park,” said Rodriguez. “Then, I came to Indiana Grand prepared to gallop and Bones (Kerry Wirth, her agent) and trainers Randy Klopp and Marvin Johnson told me to try to ride, so I did. It's been so great for me to ride in my first year at Indiana Grand. It's been an amazing experience. First, I have to thank God and then the trainers who have supported me.”

Working in the mornings has brought a special bond with several horses to Rodriguez, who places special posts about them on social media after her wins. But one horse, has stolen her heart this year at Indiana Grand.

“I would have to say Polo Art is my favorite,” said Rodriguez, who won four races aboard the seven-year-old gelding this season. “He has such a big heart, and he tries so hard.”

Rodriguez was joined by her mother, Camille, who is visiting from Puerto Rico, for the trophy presentation as the track's Leading Apprentice. She adds the award to a Leading Apprentice title she won at Ellis Park earlier this year. The young jockey follows in the footsteps of several family members who have been involved in racing in her home country.

“My grandfather was the first trainer from Puerto Rico to qualify and race in the Kentucky Derby,” added Rodriguez. “Also, my 'auntie' was the first female trainer in Puerto Rico.”

Rodriguez will move her tack to Turfway Park for the winter and plans to return to Indiana Grand when racing resumes Tuesday, April 19. Until then, she will continue to work at a career she thoroughly enjoys and continue to connect with horses that are her passion.

Rodriguez completes the 2021 racing season at Indiana Grand with 28 wins and a victory in her final race of 2021 aboard Double Advantage. She earned a spot among the track's top 15 jockeys. Horses she has guided this season have earned in excess of $550,000.

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