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Rafael Hernandez Edges Stein For First Woodbine Riding Title; Casse Leading Trainer For 12th Time; Barber Top Owner

The jockeys' race for the 2020 meet title at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, went right down to the wire, with Rafael Hernandez edging out Justin Stein in what's been a heated battle for top honors all season long. With more than double the wins of his closest competition, trainer Mark Casse ran away with his 12^thWoodbine training title.

The abbreviated 2020 Woodbine meet, which was scheduled to run through December 13, concluded on Sunday, Nov. 22, after the Government of Ontario issued a minimum 28-day lockdown order for the region of Toronto to begin on Monday, Nov. 23 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The season began on June 6 after its April 18 start date was delayed due to the initial spring COVID-19 lockdowns. The shortened season included 96 race days.

Hernandez and Casse were the hottest combination of the season and teamed up for one final victory before the meet concluded prematurely on Sunday, as 2-year-old filly Road to Romance broke her maiden in the third race. They combined to win a total of 37 races, including six stakes, from 117 starts.

Hernandez earned his first Woodbine jockey title with a total of 129 wins at the meet, besting Stein for the honors by just three wins, while his mounts earned in excess of $7.18 million. The 36-year-old reinsman, who moved to Woodbine full time during the summer of the 2016 season, finished top three with 154 wins in 2017 and second in the standings behind the now-retired Eurico Rosa Da Silva over the next two years. He accumulated 168 wins at Woodbine in 2018 behind Da Silva's record-breaking 237 victories, and followed up with a 164-win campaign in 2019.

Among his meet-leading 17 stakes wins this year, Hernandez earned his first Grade 1 victory in the E.P. Taylor Stakes with the Chad Brown-trained filly Etoile and teamed up with Canadian star Pink Lloyd, who won four stakes for trainer Robert Tiller and Entourage Stable.

Stein's highlights included winning the Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile with the Kevin Attard-trained Starship Jubilee and partnering with multiple graded stakes winner Silent Poet, conditioned by Nicholas Gonzalez. His mounts earned in excess of $7.19 million. Kazushi Kimura, who won a pair of graded stakes on Saturday and wrapped up the meet by winning three of the final six races on Sunday, finished third in the jockey standings with 83 wins, ahead of Emma-Jayne Wilson (79) and Luis Contreras (76).

Casse topped the trainer leaderboard with 93 wins during the 2020 season and more than $7.13 million in purse earnings. Norm McKnight, who led all trainers for wins over the past three years, picked up a victory on closing day to own the second spot in the standings with 44 wins while Tiller finished third with 43. Kevin Attard, whose stable amassed $3.51 million in purse earnings, edged out Martin Drexler in fourth with 37 wins. Josie Carroll, who trained winners of 29 races, finished third in the money category with $3.49 million in earnings thanks in part to OLG Canadian Triple Crown stars Mighty Heart and Belichick.

Casse's Saturday score with Grade 2 Kennedy Road champion Ride a Comet, ridden by Patrick Husbands, marked his 17^th stakes triumph of the Woodbine season. Another local highlight for the 59-year-old horseman included winning the Grade 1 Summer Stakes with Gretzky the Great, ridden by Kimura, for owners Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

Barber was the leading money-winning owner of the meet with more than $1.56 million in purses followed by Stronach Stables ($1.24 million) and Live Oak Plantation ($1.14 million). Meanwhile, Bruno Schickedanz topped the win column with 35 successful starters, followed by Barber's 17 victories.

For more information and the latest updates on the 2021 Woodbine meet, visit Woodbine.com.

The post Rafael Hernandez Edges Stein For First Woodbine Riding Title; Casse Leading Trainer For 12th Time; Barber Top Owner appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘Like Coming Home’: Rosario Looking To Make Most Of Turf Festival Opportunities In Return To Del Mar

The 2013 racing schedule afforded jockey Joel Rosario time to ride the opening day card at Del Mar on Wednesday then move on for the start of Saratoga two days later.

Rosario, the Del Mar jockey champion from 2009-2011 before moving his summer base to New York, rode four winners from nine mounts on the shore oval's 10-race card.

The following morning, a track official making backstretch rounds ran into a couple of permanent party members of the Del Mar jockey colony and mentioned Rosario's performance. “I gave him a ride to the airport,” one said with a smile. “Wanted to make sure he made it out of town OK.”

Don't look now but, as occasionally happens, heee's baaack!

The 35-year-old from the Dominican Republic will ride all four days of the “Turf Festival” from November 26-29 that closes Del Mar's 15-day Bing Crosby season. There are seven graded stakes during the period that will provide Rosario opportunities to add to the 28 he has recorded locally starting in 2008. There are two Grade 1, $300,000 events: the Hollywood Derby on Saturday, November 28, which he won in 2018 aboard Raging Bull for trainer Chad Brown; and the Matriarch on Sunday, November 29, which Rosario won in 2014 on La Tia for Armando De la Cerda, 2016 on Miss Temple City for H. Graham Motion and 2018 aboard Uni for Brown.

“I'm very excited, Del Mar is like coming home for me,” Rosario said recently by phone from New York. “When I first started a lot of people there had respect for me and gave me some great opportunities. So it's very special. And I love San Diego.”

Rosario's Del Mar riding titles came with win totals of 56 in 2009, 57 in 2010 and 49 in 2011. The 2010 tally is the most in the last 14 years and only Victor Espinoza, with 64 in 2006, has topped it in the last 27 seasons.

As anyone who was around Del Mar from 2009-2011 would have predicted, the move to New York has been a very successful one. His annual purse earnings have consistently been above the $15-million range of his final California years and he has topped the $20-million mark four times with a high of more than $24.9 million last year.

The Turf Festival will feature the top two riders in the country for money won in 2020. Irad Ortiz, Jr., also on assignment from New York for the duration of the event, is No. 1 with 269 wins from 1,150 mounts and purse earnings of $19,761,036. Rosario is No. 2 with 181 wins from 973 mounts and earnings of $17,041,821.

Rosario's “homecomings” to Del Mar since 2011 have produced nine stakes victories – seven of them in Grades Is — and created wonderful memories for local trainers.

In 2017, when Del Mar hosted the Breeders' Cup for the first time, Encinitas resident Peter Miller, one of several original Rosario supporters, enlisted him to ride Stormy Liberal in the $1-million Turf Sprint.

The resultant victory, by a head in the final jump at odds of 30-1, was the first Breeders' Cup win for Miller and the first of two on the day.

“I do remember the Stormy Liberal ride,” Miller said recently. “He saved every inch of ground, sat in the pocket, tipped him out when they straightened away and finished strong. Couldn't have ridden him any better.

“As Chick Hearn used to say, 'He's got icewater in his veins.' Pressure doesn't get to him and he's probably the best finisher in the game.”

In 2018 trainer John Sadler, another early supporter, called upon Rosario to ride Accelerate in the Pacific Classic after Victor Espinoza, inducted into the Hall of Fame a year earlier, suffered fractured vertebrae in a spill. Rosario guided Accelerate to a Classic record 12 ½-length victory.

Ten weeks later, Rosario was aboard him again in a dominating win in the $6-million Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs a victory that, were it not for Justify's Triple Crown sweep, would have made Accelerate the Horse of the Year.

“He was just an amazing horse,” Rosario said. “John gave me a lot of opportunities early in my career and I was really happy to win for him even though it was unfortunate what happened to Victor.”

Rosario used the word “opportunity” several times in a brief interview. He's happy to have the opportunity to ride Grade 1 winner Decorated Invader for Christophe Clement in the Hollywood Derby and Grade 3 victor Viadera for super trainer Chad Brown in the Matriarch.

And it's that humility, in addition to elite level riding skills, that sets Rosario apart, said his agent. Over 40 years, Ron Anderson has booked mounts for Fernando Toro and Hall of Famers Gary Stevens, Jerry Bailey, Chris Antley and John Velazquez among others. He has represented both Rosario and Velazquez since last February.

“Joel is a great rider, but he's also one of the nicest people I've ever met, bar none,” said Anderson. “You can't help but like and root for him. You don't root for everybody you meet, but if you meet Joel you're going to like him and root for him.

“He's just naturally kind and considerate to everyone. He respects everyone – grooms, hot walkers, trainers, people who hold the ropes on the path to the track – and he's respected by everybody.”

Anderson said he has seen Rosario get angry twice in the eight years they've been a team. Both times Rosario addressed the offender in unmistakably clear terms and the heat was off in a very short time.

The frustrations, hassles and bothers that are a part of life in 2020 – Anderson estimates Rosario and Velazquez have undergone COVID-19 testing 35 times since the pandemic started – haven't affected Rosario's overall outlook.

“It's been difficult for everyone in the industry, difficult for everyone everywhere,” Rosario said. “We just keep doing the best we can and hope things get better.”

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McPeek Seeing Stars? Trainer Has 13 Entries For All-Juvenile Program At Churchill Downs

Trainer Kenny McPeek has 13 horses entered in Saturday's “Stars of Tomorrow II” program at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., and among his rising juveniles on the card are Grade 1 winner Simply Ravishing in the $200,000 Golden Rod (G2) and stakes winner King Fury in the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2).

McPeek will attempt to win his second Golden Rod in this year's edition with Harold Lerner LLC, Magdalena Racing and Nehoc Stables' $350,000 Ashland (G1) winner Simply Ravishing. In her most recent start, the promising filly finished fourth in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

“I thought she ran a great race considering how it shaped up early,” McPeek said. “She didn't break well at all and had a tough trip the entire way around there. I think it was very promising the way she finished up considering the problems she had.”

Simply Ravishing was made the even-money morning line favorite in the Golden Rod and will break from post No. 8 with Robby Albarado in the saddle.

Two races later, Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm's $98,000 Street Sense winner King Fury is listed at 6-1 on the morning line as he attempts his third victory at Churchill Downs.

“He's 2-for-2 at Churchill Downs so we know he really likes it here,” McPeek said. “We've added blinkers to him in hopes to get him to the next level. I think they could add to his focus and really get him there. His only two blemishes came at Keeneland so we're excited to get him back to Churchill.”

McPeek has won 12 races on the Stars of Tomorrow II program since it was inaugurated in 2006. He won the 2010 Golden Rod with Kathballu and finished second in last year's race with Swiss Skydiver. In 2018, McPeek won the Kentucky Jockey Club with Signalman.

Run at 1 1/16 miles, the Kentucky Jockey Club is carded as Race 11 of 12 on Saturday's program. First post is 1 p.m. ET, the Kentucky Jockey Club will go at 5:56 p.m., and the Golden Rod will go as Race 9 at 4:57 p.m.

In the Kentucky Jockey Club, Cypress Creek and Arnold Bennewith's $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) third-place finisher Keepmeinmind was made the 6-5 morning line favorite in the field of nine.

The complete field for the Kentucky Jockey Club (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): #1 Sittin On Go (Corey Lanerie, Dale Romans, 5-1); #1a Smiley Sobotka (Corey Lanerie, Dale Romans, 5-1); #2 Swill (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 6-1); #3 Arabian Prince (Tyler Gaffalione, Dallas Stewart, 8-1); #4 Keepmeinmind (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro 6-5); #5 Inspector Frost (John Velazquez, Cox, 8-1); #6 Oncoming Train (Rafael Bejarano, Jimmy DiVito, 10-1); #7 King Fury (Hernandez, McPeek, 6-1); #8 Ultimate Badger (Joe Talamo, Romans, 15-1).

The field for the Golden Rod, from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Lady Lilly (Tyler Gaffalione, Steve Asmussen, 15-1); No Mo Spending (Chris Landeros, Ian Wilkes, 15-1); Coach (Joe Talamo, Cox, 6-1); Farsighted (Julien Leparoux, Rusty Arnold II, 15-1); Travel Column (Florent Geroux, Cox, 5-1); Clairiere (Ricardo Santana Jr., Asmussen, 6-1); Lady Traveler (Corey Lanerie, Dale Romans, 20-1); Simply Ravishing (Albarado, McPeek, even-money); Princess Theorem (John Velazquez, Brendan Walsh, 10-1); and Alexandria (Gerardo Corrales, Tim Hamm, 15-1).

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With Sights Set On Riding Title, Camacho Kicks Off Tampa Bay Meet With Opening-Day Triple

Gerald Bennett says there are several riders capable of winning the 2020-2021 riding title at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla. But the perennial leading trainer thinks most of the track's jockeys will spend a fair amount of time chasing Samy Camacho.

“He's psyched up to get leading rider, and he knows this track because he's been riding on it long enough. He's going to be tough,” Bennett said.

The 32-year-old Camacho, who won the 2018-2019 championship, got off to an excellent start on Wednesday's opening day card, riding three winners with a second and a third.

Today's card marked the first time Tampa Bay Downs has conducted racing in front of spectators since March 15.

Camacho displayed determination, strength and patience in Wednesday's performance. In the first race, an $8,000 claiming affair at a distance of a mile and 40 yards, he re-rallied 4-year-old gelding Campaign Spy for a nose victory from 3-5 favorite Jack B Winkle. Campaign Spy is owned by Rodney M. Miller and trained by Jon Arnett, who was making his first career start at Tampa Bay Downs.

Camacho added the third race on the turf aboard 2-year-old Florida-bred gelding Handsome Effort, waiting until the last possible moment in the one-mile, $16,000 claiming contest to urge the winner past Top Bomb by a head. Handsome Effort is owned by Foley Bloodstock and trained by Thomas D. Foley.

Another Camacho victory came in the fourth, a $5,000 claiming sprint, aboard 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding Perfetto for trainer Bennett and owner William MacKinnon.

Bennett said Camacho has learned the importance of not rushing horses approaching the stretch at Tampa Bay Downs, where experienced riders have been known to take advantage of an over-eager jockey by “floating” a charging horse and rider farther out to the middle of the track, blunting their rally.

“I started him out when he first came here (during the 2015-2016 meeting), and I told him you can't override a horse coming around the turn because they'll start spinning their wheels,” Bennett said. “That part (of the race) from the 3/8-mile pole to the quarter-mile pole, is where you hold your horse together, then move with them later.

“He's getting this track down pat now, he's competitive and you can see he's having fun when he rides. Mike (Moran), his agent, was a good rider, and he'll take Samy aside at the end of the day to talk about what happened.”

The meeting is just getting started, but Camacho has already served notice he's laser-focused on staying at the top. “I think my confidence comes from experience,” Camacho said, “but I'm still learning a lot. I trust myself and I think I have a chance to win every race I ride.”

Of course, Camacho's self-belief received a major boost when he won the Grade 2, $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby on King Guillermo in March.

“It feels great to win three races on opening day. I brought my family here today, and to have them here is a fantastic feeling,” he said. “I have to give all the thanks to my horses, the owners and the trainers, and my agent, who is working hard for me to be successful.”

Around the oval. Bennett won two races, also scoring in the second with 2-year-old Florida-bred filly R Averie Lynn. She is owned by Averill Racing and ATM Racing and was ridden by Tampa Bay Downs newcomer Roberto Alvarado, Jr.

In Wednesday's featured eighth race, the Happy Thanksgiving Purse at 6 ½ furlongs on the main dirt track, 6-year-old Florida-bred gelding High Five Cotton staved off a threat from Expensive Style to post a ¾-length victory. The winner's time was 1:16.44, less than a second off the track record.

The victory was the third in a row for High Five Cotton, who improved to 14-for-50 lifetime. Antonio Gallardo rode the winner for owner Bob Apicelli's Carole Star Stables and trainer Jose H. Delgado.

Tampa Bay Downs is closed Thursday for Thanksgiving. Thoroughbred racing continues Friday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:47 p.m. The track currently races on a Wednesday-Friday-Saturday schedule, with Sundays added to the mix on Dec. 20. Additionally, Tampa Bay Downs will conduct a Thursday card on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, and be closed Christmas, Dec. 25.

Otherwise, the track is open every day for simulcast wagering, no-limits action and tournament play in The Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at The Downs Golf Practice Facility.

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