Robby Albarado | Horse Racing Free Tips

Veteran Jockey Robby Albarado to Retire

Jockey Robby Albarado, a winner of more than 5,000 races and the regular rider of Hall of Famer Curlin, has decided to retire. The 48-year-old rider will end his career Saturday at Turfway Park, where he has a mount in the seventh race.

The news of his retirement was first reported by Daily Racing Form's Marty McGee.

“It's time,” Albarado told DRF. “I've been thinking about this for quite a while now.”

Albarado told McGee that he plans on becoming a jockey agent next year.

Albarado started out at the bush tracks in his native Louisiana and earned his first official win in 1990 at Evangeline Downs. He continued to ride in Louisiana, Arkansas and Illinois before becoming a regular on the Kentucky circuit in 1996. By the mid-nineties, he had established himself as one of the leading riders in the Midwest. In 1998, he won 269 races with earnings of $9,366,585. That same year, he won his first two Grade I races, winning the Three Chimneys Spinster and the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.

Albarado had his share of injuries and twice fractured his skull, but didn't allow that to slow him down. In 2003, he picked up the mount on Mineshaft and won four graded stakes on him on his way to the Horse of the Year title.
He won his first Triple Crown race in the 2007 GI Preakness aboard Curlin. He rode Curlin in all but one of his 16 career starts, which included wins in the G1 Dubai World Cup and the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Curlin was named Horse of the Year in 2007 and 2008.

In 2011, he was slated to ride Animal Kingdom in the Derby but suffered a minor injury the week of the race, which cost him the mount. With John Velazquez aboard, Animal Kingdom won the first leg of the Triple Crown.

Albarado was convicted in 2012 of assaulting a former girlfriend, but, on appeal, the charges were overturned. In 2011, he faced similar charges when charged with three counts related to a domestic dispute with his wife. Those charges were later dropped.

Starting in 2019, his business began to slow down. He won just 24 races that year and won 24 again in 2020. But his 2020 season was not without its highlights. He picked up the mount on 3-year-old filly star Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) and rode her to wins in the 2020 Preakness and, this year, in the GI Beholder Mile. In 2021, he has had just two winners from 93 mounts.

According to Equibase, Albarado has 5,222 career wins from 34,113 mounts and has earnings of $221,560,458.

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Albarado: Swiss Skydiver ‘Might Be Better Than Last Year’ Ahead Of Apple Blossom

A lot has changed since jockey Robby Albarado was Oaklawn's leading rider in 1996 and 1997, particularly lately.

Oaklawn, as part of a multi-million expansion, is opening a seven-story, 200-room hotel overlooking the first turn. Albarado, who is back in Hot Springs as the regular rider of champion Swiss Skydiver in the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares Saturday at Oaklawn, was a guest of the hotel Wednesday night.

“I stayed in the hotel last night and was trying to think what was here,” Albarado said after galloping Swiss Skydiver Thursday morning at Oaklawn. “What was in this actual spot, where this hotel is? That's where the old gap was. I was trying to envision where the (track) kitchen was exactly. I can remember (trainer James Eckrosh) parking in that one spot and hitting the fence every day. He backed into the fence or hit the fence every day, turning in. But you know what? There's only one thing that's constant in life – change.”

After his career began to nosedive several years ago, Albarado's fortunes began to change when he picked up the mount on the well-traveled Swiss Skydiver for last October's Preakness, which was the third leg of the revamped Triple Crown and a race the jockey won in 2007 with eventual two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. Facing males, notably another future Horse of the Year in Authentic, Swiss Skydiver beat the Kentucky Derby winner by a neck in a stirring stretch duel.

Coupled with earlier victories in the $500,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park, $200,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita and $400,00 Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn, Swiss Skydiver was named the country's champion 3-year-old filly.

Swiss Skydiver opened her 2021 campaign with a sharp 2 ¾-length victory in the $300,000 Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) March 13 at Santa Anita and now gets a rematch with two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl in the 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom. Monomoy Girl won their only meeting – $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland – as Swiss Skydiver finished seventh after stumbling badly at the start. Monomoy Girl was the country's champion 3-year-old filly of 2018 and champion older dirt female of 2020.

“When you get to this point in my career, I live for these kind of races,” Albarado said. “You've got to be tactical, you've got to be ready. I did an interview with a guy from Texas, a reporter. He asked me how I felt. I told him I stayed prepared for these kind of situations. When your named is called, be ready. I was ready for the Preakness. I was prepared for it. I hadn't ridden that level of horse in a couple of years. I didn't think about anything else going on but that race and how tactically I was going to do it. Had three or four scenarios in my mind – if this does that, I'm going to do this. Getting on her all week, like I'm doing here and did in California, she goes around the track a couple of days and figures out where she's at. That's big with her. Like in the Preakness, she knew where she was, the track, the surroundings, the poles. She hooked a Horse of the Year and put him away.”

Swiss Skydiver, who is trained by Kenny McPeek, arrived Wednesday afternoon and galloped over a muddy surface after the second renovation break Thursday morning. Swiss Skydiver has recorded three workouts since the Beholder, including a 5-furlong move in 1:00.40 April 10 at Churchill Downs.

“It's scary,” Albarado said. “She might be better than last year. She's doing so good right now.”

The Apple Blossom headlines Saturday's 12-race card, with probable post time 6:09 p.m. (Central). It goes as the 11th race. First post Saturday is 12:02 p.m.

The projected six-horse Apple Blossom field from the rail out: Another Broad, Ricardo Santana Jr. to ride, 115 pounds, 10-1 on the morning line; Swiss Skydiver, Robby Albarado, 122, 2-1; Letruska, Irad Ortiz Jr., 118, 4-1; Chance to Shine, Ken Tohill, 114, 20-1; Getridofwhatailesu, Francisco Arrieta, 117, 6-1; and Monomoy Girl, Florent Geroux, 124, even money.

Albarado has more than 5,000 victories in his career, with his mounts earning roughly $221 million in purse money. In addition to Curlin and Swiss Skydiver, Albarado was the regular of 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft. Albarado has 272 career victories at Oaklawn.

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‘We’re Coming With A Beast’: McPeek Says Swiss Skydiver Ready To Take On Monomoy Girl In Apple Blossom

Shortly after weights were released early Saturday afternoon, trainer Kenny McPeek said champion Swiss Skydiver “absolutely” would return to Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark., for a showdown with champion Monomoy Girl in the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles April 17.

“We're coming with a beast,” McPeek said.

Post positions for the Apple Blossom and the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G1) for older horses April 17 will be drawn Tuesday. Monomoy Girl was assigned top weight of 124 pounds for the Apple Blossom, 2 pounds more than Swiss Skydiver.

In her first start against older horses, notably Monomoy Girl, Swiss Skydiver finished seventh in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland after stumbling at the start of the 1 1/8-mile race. The Distaff was a weight-for-age race, with Monomoy Girl carrying equal top weight of 124 pounds. Swiss Skydiver carried 121.

“Fair enough,” McPeek said, referring to the Apple Blossom weights. “After this race, we'll have to give her weight then.”

Swiss Skydiver earned an Eclipse Award as the country's champion 3-year-old filly of 2020 following a coast-to-coast campaign that saw the daughter of Daredevil capture 5 of 10 starts, including the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn, $200,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita, $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park and the $500,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Swiss Skydiver also toppled males, including future Horse of the Year Authentic, in the Preakness – the third leg of the revamped 2020 Triple Crown – Oct. 3 at Pimlico under two-time Oaklawn riding champion Robby Albarado.

Swiss Skydiver launched her 2021 campaign with a sharp 2 ¾-length victory under Albarado in the $300,000 Beholder Mile (G1) March 13 at Santa Anita.

McPeek said Swiss Skydiver will be vanned from Churchill Downs, where she worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 Saturday morning over a fast track, “probably” arriving Tuesday night “as long as the weather's clear when she can travel.”

“Robby Albarado's coming down to get on her every day,” McPeek said. “My regular team will be with her.”

Two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl completed major preparations for the Apple Blossom with a half-mile work in company just after the track opened Sunday morning at Oaklawn for trainer Brad Cox.

Monomoy Girl had been scheduled to breeze Saturday morning, but the work was postponed because of an off track. Working over a fast track under regular rider Florent Geroux, Monomoy Girl went in :47.60 and galloped out five furlongs in :59.60 and six furlongs in 1:12.80, according to clockers. Monomoy Girl (on the outside) worked with stablemate Owendale, a millionaire graded stakes-winning male who is scheduled to run in the Oaklawn Handicap. Monomoy Girl started about a length behind Owendale and finished about a length ahead.

“Just great, as usual,” Geroux said. “Just maintenance – nice and easy – and finished up very strong. Seemed like the track was a little quick this morning. She handled it perfectly. Very pleased with her and just can't wait for next Saturday.”

Monomoy Girl will be making her first start since winning the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) Feb. 28 at Oaklawn in her 2021 debut. She was the county's champion 3-year-old filly of 2018 and champion older dirt female last year. Overall, Monomoy Girl has won 14 of 16 lifetime starts.

Multiple graded stakes winner Letruska, also ticketed for the Apple Blossom, worked just before the first surface renovation break Sunday morning at Oaklawn for trainer Fausto Gutierrez.

The speed Letruska recorded a half-mile bullet (:47.20) and galloped five furlongs in :59.40, according to clockers, with a last quarter-mile in :23.

“I was looking for an easy work,” Gutierrez said. “When I checked the time, I think she went fast. She's got a lot of speed. I think it's OK and she's in good form.”

Gutierrez said three-time reigning Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. would have the mount in the Apple Blossom. Letruska (118 pounds) was the only other probable listed by the Oaklawn racing department Sunday morning. Letruska (12 for 17 overall) finished second, beaten a head by Shedaresthedevil, in the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 13 at Oaklawn. Shedaresthedevil captured Oaklawn's $300,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) and the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) last year for Cox and co-owner Staton Flurry of Hot Springs. Swiss Skydiver was second in the Kentucky Oaks, the nation's biggest race for 3-year-old fillies.

The Oaklawn racing department listed nine probables Sunday morning for the Oaklawn Handicap – Express Train (122 pounds), Fearless (119), Owendale (119), Enforceable (118), Silver State (118), Warrior's Charge (118), Rated R Superstar (116), Silver Prospector (116) and Guest Suite (115).

Express Train finished second, beaten a half-length, in the $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) March 6 at Santa Anita for trainer John Shirreffs, who won the Apple Blossom twice (2008 and 2010) with future Hall of Famer Zenyatta.

Silver State has won four consecutive starts for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, including Oaklawn's $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes Jan. 23 and $500,000 Essex Handicap March 13.

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Leparoux Joins Select Group With 500th Keeneland Win

Julien Leparoux made the most of his first mount of Keeneland's Spring Meet by riding Calumet Farm's homebred Gear Jockey to win the fifth race and record his 500^th career victory at lthe Lexington, Ky., racetrack. He became the fourth rider to reach that milestone, joining Hall of Famers Pat Day (918) and Don Brumfield (716) and Robby Albarado (526).

Leparoux won his first race at Keeneland during the 2005 Fall Meet, his first season as a jockey. Since then, he has earned 12 leading jockey titles at Keeneland, most recently during the 2019 Fall Meet.

“Keeneland has always been a place I love. This is my favorite track in America,” Leparoux said. “To win 500 here is special. I have my family here with me on a beautiful day. It's perfect.”

Leparoux's Keeneland success has helped him earn two Eclipse Awards for being the best in his field: as an apprentice in 2006 and again in 2009.

In his career, he has more than 2,700 victories and mount earnings of $173.8 million.

Gear Jockey, a 4-year-old colt by Twirling Candy, is trained by Rusty Arnold, who scored his 281st Keeneland win to tie Hall of Famer Bill Mott on second place on the list of Keeneland's all-time leading trainers by wins. Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas has a record 295 victories here.

Leparoux and Arnold increased their win totals in the final race when Reiko and Michael Baum's Illiogami rallied to notch her first victory.

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