After Chasing Time crossed the finish line first in the sixth race at Oaklawn on Jan. 14, a group of boisterous fans on the grandstand apron began chasing Steve Asmussen as he strolled toward the Larry Snyder Winner's Circle to have his picture taken.
Asmussen wouldn't be alone.
Those fans tracking the Hall of Fame trainer at the Hot Springs, Ark., track also were headed to the winner's circle. And, many more followed. When the photo was snapped, Abbey Huffman estimated 55 of Chasing Time's 3,220 owners, including some Arkansans, had crammed into the winner's circle to celebrate the victory. Huffman is a Midwest racing manager for MyRacehorse, which offers fractional ownership in horses to shareholders, including Chasing Time, a promising 3-year-old son of Not This Time who represented the first Oaklawn winner solely owned by the entity.
Chasing Time's entry-level victory was noteworthy for another reason, too. It marked the first for nationally prominent jockey Joel Rosario since he suffered a hairline fracture of a rib when he was unseated shortly after a Dec. 2 race at Aqueduct. Rosario resumed riding Friday, which also marked his first day as a regular at the 2021-2022 Oaklawn meeting that began Dec. 3.
“Me, I was excited after the race and then to see so many people in there cheering – it was very emotional for me and very good to see that,” Rosario said Saturday afternoon. “It was unbelievable, and that's what I do every day.”
Nobody did it better in 2021 than Rosario.
Rosario ($32,944,478) was eyeing a single-season North American record for purse earnings before the injury. In addition to leading the country in purse earnings, he topped all other riders in stakes victories (69), graded stakes victories (49) and tied for 10th in victories (228), according to Equibase, racing's official data gathering organization.
Rosario, as expected, was announced Saturday as one of three finalists for an Eclipse Award as the country's outstanding jockey of 2021. Despite already compiling a Hall of Fame resume – more than 3,200 career victories, including 15 in Breeders' Cup races and three in Triple Crown events, and roughly $264 million in purse earnings – Rosario has never been honored with an Eclipse Award. The winner will be announced Feb. 10.
“We always hope,” said Rosario, who is represented by super agent Ron Anderson. “We're really grateful for everything we have and everything we've done. Appreciate everybody who has given me the opportunity. Yeah, we look forward for this one, this year again.”
Rosario, who turned 37 Friday, is scheduled to ride regularly at Oaklawn through at least early April, Anderson said. Chasing Time was Rosario's 29th career Oaklawn victory. He rode six horses Friday, all for Asmussen, and four Saturday, including Concert Tour in the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes for 2020 Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox. Lured by highest purse structure in the country this winter and the opportunity to ride A-list stock for Asmussen and Cox, Rosario is riding regularly at Oaklawn for the first time. Physically, Rosario said he's ready to go following the injury.
“I feel fine,” Rosario said. “It's always tough in the beginning, when you get started, but I've been working out. I feel fine.”
MyRacehorse, in partnership, won the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares last year at Oaklawn with two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl. MyRacehorse was founded in March 2019.
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