Outstanding riding achievements on opposite coasts at the nation's premier summer meets by Umberto Rispoli at Del Mar and Joel Rosario at Saratoga lead to a tie for Jockey of the Week August 14 through August 20. The panel of racing experts could not separate Rispoli's win in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks and Rosario's two stakes victories including the G1 Alabama.
The award recognizes jockeys for riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1,050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
On Saturday at Del Mar, Rispoli was aboard Anisette for the second time for trainer Leonard Powell in the G1 Del Mar Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on the turf. Off as the favorite in the field of 10, Anisette trailed by as many as a dozen lengths but Rispoli didn't seem concerned. Turning for home, Anisette and Rispoli began weaving through horses when a seam opened on the rail. With an impressive turn of foot, the pair went on to a 2 3/4-length win for 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.15.
“I knew I was on the best filly and that helped me ride her the way I did,” said Rispoli. “I thought about going outside and I knew the pace was not in my favor, but then things opened a bit inside and I went. They tell me I ride like (new Hall of Famer) Fernando Toro did. I know what that means. It's a great honor.”
Rosario started the race week on Wednesday at Saratoga on Silver Skillet for trainer Christophe Clement in the Suzie O'Cain Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies. Off as the 3-1 second choice, Silver Skillet raced in sixth, then on the far turn took control and rolled to win with authority in 1:41.67 for the 1 1/16-mile turf test.
Riding for four-time Eclipse Award trainer Chad Brown, Rosario was aboard Randomized in the G1 Alabama, Saratoga's premier race for 3-year-old fillies. Off as the fifth choice in the field of 10, Randomized broke on top and made every pole a winning one for a four length victory in 2:03.07 for 1 1/4 miles, defeating Grade 1 winners Wet Paint and Defining Purpose.
“She was moving so well, nice and easy all around, she's just a nice filly, but a mile and one-quarter is a long ways, so you have something for the end,” said Rosario who won his second Alabama. “It looked like she did it real easy. I asked her turning for home and it looked like she would just start running, so that was a really good performance.”
Rispoli and Rosario out-polled Axel Concepcion who won a stakes race at Laurel and posted 10 wins to lead all jockeys for the week, Flavien Prat with a graded stakes win at Saratoga, and Irad Ortiz, Jr. with two stakes wins at Saratoga.
Special mention goes to Abel Lezcano who showed incredible athleticism at Hawthorne on Sunday to stay on his mount, Christmas Present after his right stirrup broke. Undeterred by the scary incident, Lezcano rode the next four races on the card and won the day's finale.
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