Ron Anderson | Horse Racing Free Tips

Rosario, Asmussen Draw A Crowd With Chasing Time’s Victory At Oaklawn

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 10^th 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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Rosario Back From Injury On Friday; Named On Seven Asmussen Runners At Oaklawn

The favorite to land an Eclipse Award as the country's outstanding jockey of 2021 will begin his 2022 push at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark.

Joel Rosario is named on seven horses Friday, which will mark his first day as a regular in Hot Springs and first action since suffering a hairline fracture of a rib when he was unseated shortly after the finish of a Dec. 2 race at Aqueduct.

Rosario ($32,944,478) was eyeing a single-season North American record for purse earnings before the injury. Now healthy, Rosario's return to the saddle will fall on his 37th birthday.

“He takes care of himself like no one, probably, you've ever met,” Rosario's agent, Ron Anderson, said Saturday afternoon. “He's exceptionally fit … his lady friend is a nutritionist. She's taught him how to take care of his weight, what to eat, what not to eat. He's ready to go at all times. It will be six weeks since he fell and he had a hairline fracture. It's time to get started again.”

All seven horses Rosario is named on Friday are for Hall of Famer and perennial Oaklawn training champion Steve Asmussen. Rosario and Asmussen teamed to win the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) Nov. 5 at Del Mar with unbeaten Echo Zulu. Rosario won the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) the following day aboard Knicks Go for trainer Brad Cox.

Cox (12 victories) and Asmussen (11) entered Sunday leading the 2021-2022 Oaklawn trainer standings. Coupled with Oaklawn's purse structure, the highest in the country this winter, Anderson said Oaklawn is a perfect fit for Rosario, who has enjoyed immense success in Hot Springs, particularly in 2020. Rosario wintered last year at Santa Anita, but Anderson has Hall of Famer John Velazquez there in 2022. Velazquez's major client is Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

“We have success for two guys that are 1-2 and 2-1 there,” Anderson said, referring to Oaklawn. “The winter in California's not quite the same as it used to be. Just looking for a change. So, Brad we've won for; Steve, we've won for. We've won a Breeders' Cup for both of them. It's three days a week and the purses are fantastic. It's a good place to go for a change. I have Johnny, too, and Johnny's in California, per Bob's request. Sometimes, it's just the flow of the way things feel. Johnny won the last two Kentucky Derbys for Bob. Bob would like him to come out there. Joel won the Breeders' Cups for Brad and Steve. They're kind of the kingpins at Oaklawn. The purses are big. Joel doesn't mind it there. He likes it.”

Rosario rode six days during the final weeks of Oaklawn's 2020 meeting and won 15 races, including the $150,000 Oaklawn Mile Stakes aboard Tom's d'Etat for trainer Al Stall, $100,000 Rainbow Stakes aboard Man in the Can for trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs, $165,000 Arkansas Breeders' Championship Stakes aboard Man in the Can and the second division of the $500,000 Arkansas Derby (G1) aboard Nadal for Baffert.

Coupled with a double in March, including the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) aboard Nadal, Rosario finished with a spectacular 17-10-7 record from just 45 mounts and amassed $2,030,576 in purse earnings. Rosario ranked second in stakes victories at the meet (five), fourth in purse earnings and 11^th in victories – just one shy of cracking the top 10 – with an eye-popping 38 percent strike rate. Rosario added three more stakes victories at the 2021 Oaklawn meeting, including the $1 million Rebel (G2) for Baffert aboard Concert Tour.

Anderson said Rosario is booked to ride Concert Tour in the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes for older horses Jan. 15 at Oaklawn, a one-mile race would mark the colt's first start for Cox. Rosario and Cox are scheduled to team up again Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park when Knicks Go makes his final career start in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1).

“World-class rider,” Cox said Saturday afternoon. “I mean, it's no secret about that. He's a very good all-around rider and very happy that he's going to be there during the meet. Looking forward for him teaming up with Knicks Go again in the Pegasus and go from there.”

Anderson said Rosario is scheduled to ride regularly at Oaklawn until at least early April. Rosario has 28 career Oaklawn victories, including 12 stakes, with his mounts earning $4,979,104. In addition to Nadal, Rosario won the $200,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) and $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) in 2014 aboard Close Hatches for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Close Hatches won an Eclipse Award as the country's champion older female that year.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Rosario rode his first winner in the United States in 2006. He has more than 3,000 career victories, including 15 in Breeders' Cup races and three in Triple Crown events, and his mounts have earned more than $250 million. Rosario won the $10 million Dubai World Cup (G1) in 2013 in the United Arab Emirates aboard Animal Kingdom.

In addition to purse earnings, Rosario led the country in stakes victories (69) and graded stakes victories (49) in 2021, according to Equibase, racing's official data gathering organization. Rosario is seeking his first Eclipse Award.

“Look, like I tell people, he's a world-class rider,” Anderson said. “He could go anywhere in the world and be competitive. Lucky enough we come in there and we ride for Steve right away. Got some calls with Brad, got some calls with (Ron) Moquett and some other people. We'll get back with it here.”

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Velazquez Latest Hall Of Famer To Make Agent Anderson’s Job ‘Easy’

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez turned 50 on Nov. 24, but his talent on horseback and dealing with horsemen and the media hasn't diminished one iota due to his age.

Riding regularly now at Santa Anita after being based mainly in New York since 1990, the native of Puerto Rico is well atop the jockey standings after three racing days, with nine wins from 17 mounts, leading in purse earnings as well with $653,900.

It's no surprise to those in the know, particularly his agent, Ron Anderson, whose savvy extends well beyond horse racing.

“He's without a doubt one of the greatest riders we've seen in a very, very long time,” said the 67-year-old Anderson, who became a world-class agent soon after he started in 1973, and also represents future Hall of Famer Joel Rosario.

Anderson's admiration of “Johnny V.,” as Velazquez is known to friends and fans alike, is understandable and deserved.

“John devotes considerable time as president of the Jockeys' Guild, which involves much more than meets the eye,” Anderson said. “Overall, he's in a league by himself, a great rider and a complete professional in every facet of his life.”

Anderson is reticent when it comes to beating the drums on his own behalf, but his record speaks for itself.

“I've won 38 Breeders' Cup races,” Anderson noted sans fanfare. “Nobody's even close.

“I've been doing this long enough that we've got it figured out,” he said, “but the bottom line is these guys make it easy for me, because I get opportunities to put them on good horses.”

He has represented a Who's Who of Hall of Fame jockeys in his nearly 49 years as an agent, namely Velazquez, Jerry Bailey, Garrett Gomez, Gary Stevens, Chris Antley and Kent Desormeaux, with Rosario waiting in the wings.

Ron Anderson may not own up to it, but you could say this: he's been Colonel Parker to all of those jocks.

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Joel Rosario Injures Rib In Aqueduct Fall, Could Miss Up To Three Weeks

Jockey Joel Rosario could miss up to three weeks after inuring a rib in a fall at Aqueduct on Dec. 2, reports bloodhorse.com. The year's leading rider by earnings, Rosario was unseated from his second-race mount Irish Constitution shortly after the wire. He took off the remainder of Thursday's mounts, and later went to the hospital when he experienced discomfort breathing.

Agent Ron Anderson suggested that opening day at Santa Anita Park on Dec. 26 could fall in line with Rosario's return to action.

“Those kind of things, usually it's a couple or three weeks, then you have to bite the bullet a little bit because you're in discomfort, anyway,” Anderson told bloodhorse.com.

Rosario had been booked to ride through the weekend at Aqueduct, including on the Bill Mott-trained Olympiad in the G1 Cigar Mile.