Tag: People

One week into his return to the races and Kent Desormeaux says he couldn't feel better. The Hall of Fame jockey has ridden in nine races during Del Mar's fall meet and has yet to win, but he has a second and a third and knows the wins will come.

“I didn't forget how to do that,” Desormeaux said about winning. “I've done that 62-hundred times. I don't care that anybody calls me 'oh fer' right now. I'm pretty sure with the confidence of an owner and trainer we'll get the job done.”

To be exact, Deormeaux has 6,116 victories over his 36-year career. But he finds himself once again coming back from a suspension directly connected to his alcoholism and having to prove himself all over again.

“I was oddly enthused,” Desormeaux said about his first week back. “My first rides were not stellar, but I was still very excited. I was glad to be back in the saddle and it was fun to be out there.

“The appreciation was there,” he continued. “I was grateful to Del Mar for allowing me to pilot the ponies.”

Desormeaux was suspended from racing back in January due to an altercation in the Del Mar RV park last fall. It was the third time in two years he had been suspended for alcohol-related issues.

Now he's been sober for 90 days. He's gone through rehab and believes this time will be different because he's taking the initiative versus being told he has to do it.

“This time I'm doing it,” Desormeaux said. “I want to. No court orders. I want to be sober and any alcoholic will understand exactly what that means. I'm not being told where to be. I want to be there.”

He says rock bottom for him was needing permission to ride and the fact that his situation up at Santa Anita is 'to be determined' bothers him greatly.

“I'm very excited to return to my backyard at Santa Anita,” Desormeaux said. “I feel remorseful that there is a delay because of my off-track character.”

That aside, Desormeaux is finding plenty of support from the people in the industry.

“So many well wishes and encouraging comments,” Desormeaux said. “That's humbling to be missed. People get used to seeing me so now that I was away for a while they have someone that they know, who's been in the business, to pull for again.”

Desormeaux has won three Kentucky Derbys, six Breeders' Cups, three Eclipse Awards, and he's in the Hall of Fame. Which raises the question: What does a guy with so many achievements have to prove at this stage of his career?

“Mostly my desire to be sober and clean,” Desormeaux said, “and make each and every person proud of the legend that I'm supposed to be. I think with a chance, even after hitting rock bottom, I want prove that I can do it. I want to show that it can be done.

“It's a great motivator,” he said. “It certainly helps me to wake up in the morning.”

The post ‘I Want To Show That It Can Be Done’: Hall of Famer Desormeaux Back Race Riding, Taking Initiative To Stay Sober appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Trainer Faith Wilson, who started her first horse in February 2021, celebrated her first graded stakes victory with her 41st starter when veteran gelding Greeley and Ben notched a neck triumph in Saturday's Fall Highweight (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

“He's doing great and has had so many treats,” said Wilson over the phone with Greeley and Ben beside her. “He's his happy self.”

Owned by Darryl Abramowitz, Greeley and Ben stalked and pounced from 3 1/2 lengths off the pace in rail-skimming fashion under Manny Franco to land the narrow victory in a dramatic finish. It was a four-way photo for the win with Runninsonofagun, Factor It In and Jaxon Traveler all making a winning drive for the wire, but it was the evergreen Greeley and Ben who stuck his neck out and took home the winner's share of $96,250. He was awarded a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“It was very impressive. I'm certain I made quite a scene,” said Wilson, with a laugh. “I got nervous because the big gray horse [Factor It In] was coming to him, but my mom said, 'He's won 22 races, he knows where the wire is.' ”

The Fall Highweight marked the second consecutive victory for Greeley and Ben, who entered from a tidy 1 3/4-length allowance coup over the same track and distance on November 10. That effort came after finishing a gutsy fourth in the Bold Ruler (G3) in October at Belmont at the Big A where he was defeated three-quarter lengths by Runninsonofagun, runner-up in the Fall Highweight.

Greeley and Ben, an 8-year-old son of Greeley's Conquest, made the grade in his 39th start, scoring the well-deserved victory in his third attempt at the graded level. His previous best finish in graded company was a close third in the Grade 3 Whitmore this March at Oaklawn Park for previous conditioner Karl Broberg. He was purchased for $80,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale and made three starts for trainer David Jacobson before being haltered by Abramowitz and trainer Jeffrey Englehart for $40,000 out of a winning effort in September at Saratoga.

“It's very exciting to get this win, especially with him,” said Wilson, who took over training duties for Englehart's horses this week while he served a 10-day suspension that ended Wednesday. “Ever since we claimed him, we immediately said, 'Wow, this horse has a lot of back class.' He just has such a presence about him and he carries himself so nice on the track. He just does everything right. He acts like a really classy old horse, and he proved it yesterday.”

Wilson is the daughter of trainers Bill and Donna Wilson and has been involved in horse racing throughout her life. After working for several trainers, including Hall of Famers Steve Asmussen and Todd Pletcher, she became an assistant for Jeffrey Englehart last year while keeping her own small string to train under her name. She scored her first win with a filly named La Luisa last June at her home base of Monmouth Park.

“My parents were trainers when I was younger and my father worked for top people, so I spent my summers in Pletcher's barn and Asmussen's barn,” said Wilson. “I had show horses my whole life and I have a pony here. I have a couple of my own that I keep in training just for myself. I just love it.”

Greeley and Ben's Fall Highweight conquest was the fourth career win for Wilson, who also won earlier on Saturday's card with Victory Built in a state-bred allowance. The son of Big Brown earned the fourth win of his career in his 41st outing, holding off a late rally from Agility to win by 1 3/4 lengths under Dylan Davis.

“He's good. He's a big, fat horse and nothing stays in his feed tub,” said Wilson. “I said to Dylan, 'You were making me sweat a little bit,' and Dylan said, 'No, he was just toying with that horse.' He could have pulled away from him any time he wanted to. We were really happy.”

The post ‘I’m Certain I Made Quite A Scene’: Trainer Faith Wilson Relishing First Graded Stakes Win With Greeley And Ben appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Jockey Luis Saez made his presence felt Saturday at Churchill Downs as the 30-year-old vaulted to the top of the Fall Meet jockey standings with six victories on the 12-race card.

Saez entered Sunday's closing day card with a 23-17 win lead over Tyler Gaffalione and Brian Hernandez Jr. in his attempt to win his first riding title beneath the historic Twin Spires.

“I love it here at Churchill Downs,” Saez said. “Every day I come here to try and ride the best I can. It was a great day and I'm very grateful.”

Saez, who began riding in 2009, is one of North America's top jockeys. He finished last season ranked No. 3 in North America with 293 wins and $26,194,654 in earnings. Represented by retired trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, Saez was riding his first full-time meet at Churchill Downs this fall.

On Saturday's card, Saez was chasing the record one-day win total set by Pat Day (June 20, 1984) and Julien Leparoux (Nov. 11, 2008) but came one-win short of tying the record.

Saez began Saturday on a tear winning the first five of six races. His only early blemish was a runner-up effort in Race 2. Saez found the winner's circle one additional time in Race 11 aboard Instant Coffee in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2).

“In his last start (in the Breeders' Futurity [G1]) I really thought he was going to be close to the pace,” Saez said. “He had so much trouble early on in the race that he wasn't where he needed to be. He made a big move pretty late but it was too late. There were some really good horses in there. I told (trainer) Brad (Cox) I want to ride him back because I think he can improve a lot.”

Saez was slated to ride eight horses on Sunday's program.

Gaffalione and Hernandez would need to have a record day to tie or pass Saez in the standings. Gaffalione had 10 mounts while Hernandez had eight.

In the trainer standings, Mike Maker held a 12-9 win lead over Steve Asmussen. Maker, seeking his eighth Churchill Downs title and fifth during the Fall Meet, had horses in entered in Races 9, 10, 11 while Asmussen had entries in Races 1, 3, 5, 6 and 12.

In the owner standings, there was a six-way tie at the top between Godolphin (3 wins, no entries); Lothenbach Stables (3 wins, no entries); Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher (3 wins, no entries); Stonestreet Stables (3 wins, no entries); Susan and Jim Hill (3 wins, no entries) and Three Diamonds Farm (3 wins, no entries). On the outside looking in was Penny Lauer (2 wins, one entry Race 3); Kyle Nagel (2 wins, one entry Race 8); Slam Dunk Racing (2 wins, one entry Race 12); Triple V Racing (2 wins, one entry Race 9) and Steve Asmussen (1 win, entries Races 1, 3, 5, 6).

The post Six-Win Day Launches Saez To Top Of Churchill Jockey Standings As Meet Finale Starts appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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