People | Horse Racing Free Tips

Tyler Baze ‘Happy To Be Home’ With Family, Riding At Del Mar Again

Halfway through Saturday's fourth race at Del Mar, a mile $25,000 claimer on the main track, jockey Tyler Baze and his mount Pubilius Syrus, the 5-2 betting favorite, were 10 lengths behind and appeared destined for a distancing loss.

Three-quarters of the way through, they were still 7 1/2 lengths behind and were in front, by just a head, of only one rival in the field of seven.

However, in a turn of events that makes racing exciting, they sprinted past everyone in front of them in the last quarter and won by a neck.

“He (Pubilius Syrus) didn't want to run until he was ready, that's all I can say,” Baze said afterward. “I was ridin' and ridin' and he wasn't giving me nothing. Then all of a sudden he just turned on the afterburners and went. I thought, 'Finally, gosh he was making me work way too hard.'”

Carrying on the family tradition of his cousin Russell, who retired as North America's all-time leading jockey with 12,842 wins, Tyler was horsebacking at age 3 and riding professionally at 17. Baze, now 38, won an Eclipse Award as North America's top apprentice in 2000 and was a Southern California circuit regular until the storms, literal and figurative, at Santa Anita in 2019 prompted a move to the Midwest for the good of his business and family.

The venture was successful enough, even through the COVID-19 complications of 2020. But there was the desire to get back to Southern California and be with his family at their home near Santa Anita. And, at the end of summer came an opportunity to have respected horseman Jack Carava – who ended a 33-year training career – as his agent.

So, in September, Baze was back riding in Southern California with intentions of staying but more aware than ever of the uncertainties of life.

“You never know what's going to happen,” Baze said. “But California racing is good, my family's here and I'm happy to be home. Jack (Carava) is great. I'd ridden for him for 20 years and when he said he wanted to make a career change I jumped at the opportunity to work with him.”

Baze, of course, was delighted to get back to his wife and three children.

“Ages 3, 4 and 6 and they're only going to be kids once,” Baze said. “They're happy that I get to see them every day. They were missing daddy a lot.”

Like everyone else, 2020 has been a year of dealing with COVID for Baze. Initially on the Midwest circuit in Arkansas and Kentucky, lately in California.

“Everywhere you go the rules are different,” Baze said. “I just try to keep pretty isolated. There ain't no going shopping at the mall. My kids have pretty much stayed at home since it all started. It's crazy times and we're fortunate to be running (horse races).

“Everybody needs to do what they can to stay safe. Everybody needs to do their part.”

The win on Pubilius Syrus was No. 6 from 37 mounts at the meeting. He also has two seconds and three third-place finishes. “It's going well, can't complain,” Baze said.

It also was win No. 999 in the career of trainer Mark Glatt, who figures to notch milestone No. 1,000 during the Bing Crosby Season. The first opportunity comes in today's second race when Baze rides Win Like Coach P, 5-1 on the morning line.

The post Tyler Baze ‘Happy To Be Home’ With Family, Riding At Del Mar Again appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: ‘I’ll Never Forget It As Long As I Live’

Stable lad Dean Sinnott has exercised several very nice horses for trainer Dermot Weld over the past six years, including 2016 Group 1 Epsom Derby winner Harzand, but he said he's never felt one quite like Tarnawa. The Aga Khan's homebred 4-year-old daughter of Shamardal went undefeated in 2020, including a triumphant victory over male rivals in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf on Nov. 7 at Keeneland race course in Lexington, Ky.

It was a first Breeders' Cup victory for the 28-year-old Sinnott, as well as for top Irish trainer Weld and 2020's champion Irish jockey Colin Keane.

“It was my first time bringing a horse to America, and we all had a bit of luck on our side,” Sinnott said, his lyrical tone rising to accentuate the emotion of the moment. “In the test barn (after the win) my phone was just buzzing away in my pocket, and it was actually Dermot Weld himself and he couldn't have been happier; it was a very special win for him.”

Coming into the Breeders' Cup off wins in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille and G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines, Tarnawa was sent to post as the third choice in the talented field of 10. She was facing 2018 Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up and world-traveler Magical, Group 1 winners Mogul and Lord North, as well as top American hopes Channel Maker and Arklow.

She lost her footing a bit at the start of the 1 1/2-mile contest, and Keane guided Tarnawa over to the rail to save ground along the rail near the rear of the pack. The filly worked her way out to the five-path and moved up into fifth near the head of the lane, but still had nearly four lengths to make up.

Sinnott was watching from the rail, cheering Tarnawa home as she powered to a one-length victory over Magical.

The field for the 2020 Breeders' Cup Turf makes its way around the Keeneland turf course

“When she came into the home straight my heart began to beat a little bit quicker,” Sinnott remembered. “I tell ya, I was nice and calm, but I think I just jumped off the wall and let a few rolls out. The emotions got the best of me. It was an incredible moment, and I'll never forget it as long as I live. It was brilliant to do what she'd done.”

Everything had gone well since Tarnawa arrived in the United States over a week before the race, from her morning gallops under Sinnott, gate schooling, and her attitude in the stall. Stable lads in Europe are both the exercise rider and the groom, so Sinnott knew the filly was as well prepared as possible for the biggest test of her career.

“In a strange sort of way, I was more anxious for her to not let herself down,” said Sinnott. “Things were going very well, everything according to plan, and we were expecting a big run. I was just hoping that she would do herself justice.

“It was just a fairytale plan.”

Born in Wexford, Ireland, Sinnott has worked around horses for as long as he can remember.

“At my home place in Ireland we've always had young horses and mares,” the lad said. “One year I decided I might try riding a few. It was madness maybe, but we kind of progressed into actually trying to make a living out of it. I don't think we made too much of a bad decision!”

Sinnott went first to a local trainer's yard to learn how to ride, then attended the racing academy at the Curragh for a year before he was sent to a trainer in France for further schooling. Sinnott spent 2 1/2 years with trainer Connor O'Dwyer, also from Wexford, before the full-time opportunity to ride for Weld came about six years ago

Today, Sinnott rides out for several other trainers early in the morning at the Curragh, then works for Weld, then rides a few other mounts during lunch hours. He also rides a few races both on the flat and over jumps, and even rode over timber in the United States for Leslie Young during a three-month span two years ago.

With all that experience, it isn't hard to see why Sinnott would be entrusted with a promising filly like Tarnawa. He has been aboard her all season and said she's actually pretty easy to work around.

“She's a very straightforward filly, as honest as you get,” Sinnott said. “It's unbelievable, I've never ridden a horse that has passion as she does… She's after establishing a big fan base in Ireland.”

When Sinnott returned home this week, he was required to begin a 14-day quarantine due to pandemic restrictions. He also had to pass a COVID test before traveling to the United States for the Breeders' Cup, but said the extra steps were all worth it in the end.

“It was an unbelievable result,” Sinnott said. “We were fairly confident, but as you know it was such a competitive race. We figured if she runs well, we'll be happy, but to go and win was really incredible.

“She's actually after winning me heart. I've been lucky enough to ride very good horses in the yard, like Harzand, but this one is by far the best one I've ever ridden.”

Dean Sinnott (right) with the victorious Tarnawa

The post Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: ‘I’ll Never Forget It As Long As I Live’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

First Del Mar Victory By Apprentice Pyfer A Family Affair

Jessica Pyfer's win aboard Summer Love in Friday's second race at Del Mar was a multi-layered joy for the 22-year-old apprentice rider.

It was her first victory at the seaside track north of San Diego, Calif., and the fifth of her burgeoning career, which triggers the step from a 10- to seven-pound weight allowance, the initial sign of accomplishment for apprentice riders. And it came after getting a leg up from her stepfather, trainer Phil D'Amato. To that point, D'Amato starters had been 0-for-12 at the Bing Crosby meeting.

“It's very special to win here,” Pyfer said. “I've been coming here since I was a little girl, six or seven years old, and it's like my second home. Every summer I used to come here and idolize the jockeys in the room and now I'm one of them.

“To win for my dad is even more special. He's the man who helped me through the years and has helped me get my riding career started. To him I'm very thankful.”

Summer Love, a Kentucky-bred 3-year-old daughter of Summer Front, had one victory in five career starts and was 0-for-3 in Southern California since coming under the care of D'Amato in early summer following two races in Florida for trainer Michael Stidham.

Jessica Pyfer, soaking wet from an initiation by fellow riders, celebrates her first win at Santa Anita

A pair of optional claiming level tries here last summer with first Abel Cedillo and then Ricky Gonzalez in the saddle proved fruitless. Pyfer got the call for a $25,000 claiming event at Santa Anita on Oct. 3 at Santa Anita and the result was a fourth-place finish, the best of the filly's career other than her maiden win.

Summer Love was the 7-2 second choice on the morning line Friday behind 5-2 Invincibella, but they were virtual co-favorites $2.70-1 going into the gate.

Summer Love sped to a clear lead at the start, was in front by four lengths at the midpoint of the mile run on dirt, padded the lead to five turning for home and won by 4 3/4 lengths to the cheers of Pyfer's racetrack family and owners from the Agave Racing Stable and Little Red Feather partnership.

Pyfer, born in Denver, Colo., stands 5' 2” and weighs in at 110 pounds. She is a college (Azusa Pacific) graduate who has spent her whole life on or near horses.

Pyfer's mother, Sherri Alexander, has been a horsewoman and exercise rider since her youth. She was seven months pregnant with Jessica and galloping horses in California before going to Denver to give birth. She had her daughter on the backs of ponies and horses very soon afterward and Jessica competed in her first riding event as a 4-year-old.

Sherri returned to California when Jessica was five for an opportunity to gallop horses for trainer Mark Glatt in Southern California. That led to a further galloping opportunity with the late trainer Mike Mitchell where she and his then assistant, D'Amato, met and became friendly. In due course, D'Amato took over training many of Mitchell's horses after he passed, while his friendship with Sherri evolved to the point where it led to marriage.

Growing up, Jessica became a regular at the D'Amato barn and, when she wasn't in school, also was riding horses in events whenever and wherever she could. When she turned 16, she got a racetrack license and began galloping horses for D'Amato as well as other trainers, something she delighted in around her book work for the next six years. Her parents encouraged her to go on with her schooling and she even took the law school entrance test (LSAT) and did well enough on it that that door was open to her. But still her passion for the horses was strong and growing stronger and then — it led to a “moment” for her.

“I was at home with my family at dinner one night,” she recalled. “I'd finished college and I'd been galloping lots of horses. I even got asked by (Hall of Fame trainer) Richard Mandella to gallop some of his horses. That really got me to thinking about what I wanted to do. And then out of the blue my dad says: 'Go ahead and do it. If you're going to be a rider, this is the time for you to try. Go ahead.'”

Asked if there were personal or family rituals established for celebrating big victories, Pyfer replied in the negative. Then her eyes lit up above the mask covering the lower half of her face.

“I'll start a tradition now,” she said. “We'll pick a restaurant and go out to dinner.”

The post First Del Mar Victory By Apprentice Pyfer A Family Affair appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Geroux Retains Hot Hand At Churchill Downs Following Breeders’ Cup Riding Double

Jockey Florent Geroux's success after last weekend's Breeders' Cup world championships continued at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., as he vaulted to the top of the rider standings after he won with seven of his last 11 mounts beneath the Twin Spires.

“We've been on a great run,” said Geroux, who won aboard Aunt Pearl and Monomoy Girl at the Breeders' Cup. “It was an incredible weekend aboard some fantastic horses. Now, back at Churchill, we're continuing to do well.”

In total, Geroux recorded 16 wins through Friday's halfway mark of the 24-day Fall Meet. Geroux, typically the first-call rider for trainer Brad Cox, has recorded victories for 10 different trainers at the meet. Besides Cox, Geroux has also recorded wins for Tom Amoss, Rusty Arnold, Juan Cano, Wayne Catalano, Phil D'Amato, Eddie Kenneally, Mike Maker, Tom Van Berg and Brian Williamson.

“We had a great Breeders' Cup weekend next to Brad's four wins,” said Geroux, who is represented by veteran agent Doug Bredar. “I've stuck with Brad for a long time and it's been a snowball effect over the last few years – not only at the Breeders' Cup but just for our business in general.

“It's been a challenging year when we stopped racing over the winter with the pandemic. We've been very grateful to be able to run and do our job through this.”

Geroux was named to ride six horses on Sunday's program and 10 on Wednesday and Thursday. He remained one win ahead of Tyler Gaffalione and Ricardo Santana Jr. in the jockey standings.

The post Geroux Retains Hot Hand At Churchill Downs Following Breeders’ Cup Riding Double appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post