Victor Espinoza | Horse Racing Free Tips

Princess Noor Gives Baffert Ninth Victory In Del Mar Debutante

Zedan Racing Stable's high-priced filly ran like she was worth every penny of the $1.35 million owner Amir Zedan spent on her this past April at a 2-year-old in training sale and took down honors in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante Sunday afternoon at Del Mar near San Diego, Calif.

The well-made daughter from the first crop of the Giant's Causeway stallion Not This Time overcame some jostling at the start, then took command at the head of the lane to draw out to a 6 1/2-length tally in the 70th edition of the local championship race for 2-year-old fillies. As the 7-10 favorite in the field of six, she returned $3.40, $2.40 and $2.10 across the board after surviving a stewards inquiry that looked at the incident at the start.

Hall of Famer Victor Espinoza handled the filly for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. Espinoza had been aboard her here on August 22 when she easily took her debut in a straight maiden race.

“Yes, she's a little green,” said Espinoza. “Only her second time (to race). Coming away from there she went in a bit and I tried to get her off as quickly as I could. You try to control the babies as best as you can, especially at the break. The other filly (My Girl Red) came out on me. My filly was OK from there. I really don't know how good she is, because I haven't let her run yet. It's nice to be back at Del Mar and riding good horses.”

Princess Noor earned a winner's check for $150,000 from the $250,000 purse and now has a bankroll that reads $183,000.

Finishing second in the seven panel spin was Phoenix Thoroughbreds' Forest Caraway and third was Bolton, Leidel or Lipman, et al's Illumination. The second choice in the race, Erich G. Brehm's My Girl Red, who was involved in a bit of bumping with the winner away from the gate, appeared to take a bad step less than a furlong into the race and was pulled up by her rider. She was returned to her barn and reported to be fine.

Princess Noor ran the distance in 1:23.15, though she was under a stout hold for the last sixteenth of a mile.

The Debutante win was the fifth for rider Espinoza and ninth for trainer Baffert.

“We knew going in she was a special filly,” said Baffert by telephone from Kentucky. “She showed so much brilliance at the sale, that's why she cost so much, and we got what we expected to see today. She broke a little off kilter and was behind horses, but Victor didn't really push her, especially at the end. We're happy to get the win. We'll run her back at Santa Anita and then go from there.”

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Rider Reflections: Jockeys Miss Fans, Morning Workouts In Unusual Del Mar Season

The summer of racing at Del Mar in 2020 has been, to put it mildly, unlike any other.

Jockeys, for example, have done their jobs wearing the mandatory accessory of a face mask in addition to the customary helmet, goggles and safety vest. That said, they're still working at Del Mar, a place unlike any other.

So, out of curiosity, a number of the members of Del Mar's colony were asked two questions: 1.) What has been the toughest part of being at Del Mar this summer? And 2.) What has been your favorite part of being at Del Mar this summer?

The answers, in alphabetical order.

BRICE BLANC – Toughest: “The first two weeks around here, when we were dealing with some of our riders and the COVID, was worrying. But since then, things are better. But you've got to deal with all the things surrounding our situation. You've got to be adapting all the time. What's difficult for me is to ride with the mask. I had broken my nose years back and have some sinus issues, so I do my share of breathing through my mouth. It's hard to breathe through your mouth with a mask. But we adapt. Most of the stuff is minor.”

Favorite: “The usual here at Del Mar. It's just a great place to be. It is one of my favorite summertime places to go racing. Deauville (in France) and Saratoga (in New York) and Del Mar. They're the big three of summer locations. It's very different at Del Mar this year without people; sort of like we're naked. But it's still Del Mar and that's a good thing.”

ABEL CEDILLO – Toughest: “The whole coronavirus situation. Dealing with all the things we have to deal with. We all do it, though, so you do it. Tougher might be dealing with the horses. Some of them run, some of them don't. Sometimes they have a bad day. But I try my best every time and hope for the best.”

Favorite: “I think my favorite down here is the beach. My little boy loves the ocean and I love taking him down there for walks. We really enjoy Del Mar for that.”

VICTOR ESPINOZA – Toughest: “Dealing with the coronavirus business. I missed opening day at Del Mar because of it. I missed opening day! I never thought it would happen, but it did this year. That was hard.”

Favorite: “Everything about Del Mar. It's where I want to be. It's why I come to the races. Everything I want is here. It is just great to win races at Del Mar.”

RUBEN FUENTES – Toughest: “For me, it was not being able to work horses in the morning. That was very tough, not being able to get to know them and get to understand them a little before they raced, especially with the 2-year-olds.”

Favorite: “We got to run. We're very lucky to have a job and be working. A lot of people don't right now.”

RICKY GONZALEZ – Toughest: “Not being able to work horses.”

Favorite: “Winning and meeting new people.”

MARIO GUTIERREZ — Toughest: “I don't think there's anything tough about riding here. Same racetrack; same gate; same horses to ride. It's all good. I'm happy to be here and racing.”

Favorite: “I'm glad to be racing and having the chance to compete and make some money. I'm very happy that the people on the backside are able to work and take care of their families. Racing at Del Mar is a good thing.”

JUAN HERNANDEZ — Toughest: “The toughest part for me has been keeping up with the competition. It's tough here. I was here in 2012 and it's a much different room. Very competitive. And, of course, the whole business of 2020. Everyone feels that. But what are you going to do? You follow the rules and hope for better times.”

Favorite: “My favorite part of being here is the incredible horses. I've been riding some very good horses. And I'm enjoying being around these other riders. They're friendly and they're very good, so it's giving me a chance to learn from them.”

TIAGO PEREIRA – Toughest: “Dealing with all the virus issues. Being careful about everything. I take showers before and after everything. I have a 4-year-old daughter and I must be very careful around her. We all have to do it; the masks, all of it. But that's how it is.”

Favorite: “I like being at Del Mar and riding here. One of my favorite places. I like the beach for my daughter. We go down there during the week and play. She likes the ocean. We go up to the quite section, up above Dog Beach. Not many people up there and we can just have fun.”

FLAVIEN PRAT – Toughest: “I definitely miss the fans. Del Mar has always been all about having people around having fun. It's kind of sad not to see anybody.”

Favorite: “Just being able to ride, have a job and do something we love to do. There's a lot of people who can't right now.”

UMBERTO RISPOLI – Toughest: “I can't share all the winners and the good meeting with owners, fans and family.”

Favorite: “Enjoying the summer, the beach and good times with my family and friends and having the chance to win a lot of races.”

MIKE SMITH – Toughest: “I think the toughest overall has not been seeing any fans here. Del Mar is a social place. A place where people come to party and have fun. Not this year. It's sad. It kind of takes the gas out of your balloon. For me personally, the protocols (travel restrictions for riders) have been tough. I'm a 'traveling' jock. I'd have been at Saratoga several times already. I think the protocols have probably cost me three Grade Is.”

Favorite: “My favorite part is just being here. I love Del Mar. I want to end my career here. I love California and I especially love Del Mar.”

DRAYDEN VAN DYKE – Toughest: “Having to be part of 2020 and the whole coronavirus thing. Plus all the other stuff going on in the country right now. The Black Lives Matter thing. It's a very unsettled time for the country. It's hard for a lot of people.”

Favorite: “My favorite part of being at Del Mar is being at Del Mar. Right here 'where the turf meets the surf.' I've been riding some good horses and winning some big races. What's not to like about it all. How can you have a frown on your face when you're in San Diego?”

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Flagstaff Faces Giant Expectations In ‘Win And You’re In’ Pat O’Brien Stakes

Flagstaff is a lovely, little town in the mountains of Northern Arizona. Flagstaff is also a very fast racehorse who could be tough to beat at Del Mar Saturday afternoon in the 35th running of the Pat O'Brien Stakes.

The O'Brien, a seven-panel spin for 3-year-olds and up, carries a purse of $150,000 and Grade II status. It also is a Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” race that guarantees the victor entry with all fees paid to the $2,000,000 BC Dirt Mile to be run on Saturday, November 7 at Keeneland in Kentucky.

Flagstaff, the horse, is a 6-year-old gelding by 2004 sprint champion Speightstown who has been judiciously spotted and raced by trainer John Sadler for the Kentucky-bred's owners — Lanes End Racing or Hronis Racing. He didn't make it to the races until his 4-year-old season and only shows 13 starts in total. Five of them have been wins, though — the last two coming in stakes at the O'Brien's seven-furlong distance — and he sports earnings that read $485,785.

Hall of Fame rider Victor Espinoza, who has been aboard in most of the horse's starts, has the call again Saturday and they'll break from Post 4 in the eight-horse lineup.

The chief treat to Flagstaff is likely to be the comebacking Giant Expectations, a 7-year-old horse by Frost Giant who races for the partnership of David Bernsen and Exline-Border Racing and is trained by Peter Eurton. The winner of $1,336,600 will be making his first start in nearly 10 months and gets Del Mar's leading rider, Umberto Rispoli, along for the outing.

Giant Expectations has a history with both the Pat O'Brien and the BC Dirt Mile. He won the former back in 2017 as a 4-year-old, then ran second in it last year. He's run in the BC Dirt Mile the last three years, though he hasn't had much success in the race. The 2019 BC Dirt Mile on November 2 at Santa Anita was his most recent start.

Here's the full O'Brien field from the rail out with riders and morning line odds:

Agnew, Schneider or Xitco's Law Abidin Citizen (Abel Cedillo, 5-1); Little Red Feather Racing and Vanderslice's P R Radio Star (Juan Hernandez, 6-1); Gust or Warren's Manhattan Up (Tiago Pereira, 15-1); Flagstaff (5/2); Tom Kagele's C Z Rocket (Flavien Prat, 4-1); Slam Dunk Racing or MyRacehorse.com's Vertical Threat (Heriberto Figueroa, 8-1); Giant Expectations (7/2), and Doubledown Stables' Blameitonthelaw (Drayden Van Dyke, 12-1).

C Z Rocket is the lone out-of-towner to tackle the local sprinters. California trainer Peter Miller claimed the City Zip gelding for $40,000 at Oaklawn Park this past April and subsequently won three straight races with him in Kentucky. He was shipped to Monmouth Park in New Jersey in July, but never started there. He's won seven races and $341,641.

Law Abidin Citizen was the third-place finisher in the six-furlong Bing Crosby Stakes earlier in the Del Mar meet. The 6-year-old gelding by Twirling Candy has won seven races and more than $500,000, all out of the barn of trainer Mark Glatt.

P R Radio Star will be trying to win his first stakes race in his 31st start. The 5-year-old gelding by Warrior's Reward has won twice already at the current Del Mar meet, taking a pair of allowance sprints.

First post for the 11-race Saturday card is 2 p.m.

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Espinoza On COVID-19: ‘I Don’t Want Nobody To Have This Disease … It’s Pretty Bad’

Triple Crown-winning jockey Victor Espinoza has opened up about his experience of coronavirus, believing he contracted it at Los Alamitos and admitting: “I let my guard down.”

Espinoza landed the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes on American Pharoah in 2015. He is among a host of big-name US riders to contract the virus, which has swept through the southern Californian jockey colony, resulting in the cancellation of this weekend's Del Mar meet.

While some have been asymptomatic, 48-year-old Espinoza said he has never felt any pain like it “I don't want nobody to have this disease,” he said. “It's pretty bad.”

Espinoza tested positive after riding at the Los Alamitos Derby meeting on July 4-5, joining a list that also includes Flavien Prat, Umberto Rispoli, Luis Saez and Martin Garcia.

Describing his experience on the Winners Circle ABR Podcast, the jockey said: “I survive so far. It's been already ten days, but the first couple of days it was pretty bad.

“My body, my joints, pretty much everything hurts. I don't have a headache, it's just sometimes I get a little pressure, but that pressure is like nothing I have ever felt before. This thing is no joke.

“On Tuesday it hit me pretty hard for two hours,” Espinoza went on. “The next day I woke up normal, like nothing happened. Then the following day my body started hurting, every joint, especially my legs all the way from my hip to the ankle. The worst thing is there is not much they can do.”

Espinoza, who has also won the Kentucky Derby on War Emblem and California Chrome, said he had been advised to rest at home and was beginning to feel much better. He added that he was fortunate to not have had any breathing difficulties, a cough or temperature which would have required more urgent treatment.

Until he went to Los Alamitos, the jockey said he had been taking extra precautions to avoid catching the disease.

“I have been in quarantine since March, I never went out anywhere,” he said. “I was just so careful to take care of myself – but one second I let my guard down when I went to Los Alamitos and that was it.

“I was there Saturday, and Sunday, I started to feel tired in the afternoon and by Monday it hit me and Tuesday was the worst.”

Explaining what happened at the race meeting, he continued: “I got to Los Alamitos late and there are a couple of jockeys from out of town, like Martin Garcia and Saez. I was almost close to Martin Garcia's corner and a couple of valets, who are positive now. But then we don't know.

“When I say I let my guard down, I was not even going to take a shower but somehow they convinced me the showers were okay. So I went to the shower room and when I came back to my locker Martin Garcia was there and his valets.

“They were packing their stuff right next to me and I don't have my mask on after getting out of the shower so I believe it was the couple of seconds I don't have my mask on was how I got it.”

He added: “I don't want to say that it was Martin. We were all together. We share the room with the quarter-horse jockeys. It's pretty narrow. There is no exhalation in there. Even if you are not very close to them, you could still get infected.”

This story was originally published by Horse Racing Planet and has been reprinted with permission.

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