Career victory No. 1,000 for jockey Kyle Frey, achieved in Friday's third race aboard Tizlightning, came after getting a leg up from trainer Steve Miyadi, which was entirely fitting given their long, mutually beneficial relationship.
“They told me (about the chance for No. 1,000) in the paddock, I had no idea. If I'd have known that, he's a jinx, I'd have put someone else on the horse,” Miyadi said, joking. Miyadi followed it up with:
“No, he's a good kid. He started working for me when he was a boy. His dad worked for me and didn't want him to be a jockey, and I respected that. But here we are 1,000 wins later. I know the whole family – mom, dad, sisters, brothers – it's a family affair.”
Even so, don't even think about putting Miyadi in the sentimentalist category.
“I've never given him a compliment after he wins a race for me, and that rule still stands,” Miyadi said.
Frey got his 999th win on November 12 but had zero wins last weekend and a runner-up finish in Friday's first race before cracking the milestone by taking Tizlightning, a 2-year-old Lori Gallegos California homebred, wire to wire and narrowly holding off the late charge of Bright Leaf and apprentice Emily Ellingwood at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.
“It means a lot,” Frye said. “It was a long road, but hopefully the next thousand will come a little quicker. It means a lot to win it for Steve. I talked to my dad a week or so ago and he (remarked) about how great it would be to get it for Steve. It's pretty cool.”
The post Miyadi Gives Frey A Leg Up To 1,000th Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
