Flavien Prat, who has had a hammerlock on the Southern California riding titles for the last several years, announced he would leave California and ride on the East Coast beginning next month. The Daily Racing Form broke the news that Prat would relocate to Kentucky for the Keeneland spring meet, […]
Tag: Umberto Rispoli
Kentucky Downs: Short Meet, Small Track, Big Pari-Mutuel Payouts
Kentucky Downs, one of the biggest sleeper tracks in the country from a betting standpoint begins, its season on Sunday. With a six-day card, sleeping on the sleeper track means you’ll likely miss something from a wagering standpoint. Kentucky Downs offers the best pari-mutuel payouts of any track in the […]
Say the Word About the Shoemaker Mile’s Consistent Contenders
If it’s possible to ride into a Grade 1 race in form – riding into that race with two losses – Smooth Like Strait comes into this year’s Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita Park in perfect form. Yes, Smooth Like Strait finished third in his last start, the […]
Belmont Musical Jockeys: Prat Trades Rombauer for Hot Rod Charlie
Trainer Doug O’Neill, who proved his nimbleness by quickly securing Flavien Prat’s jockey services for the Kentucky Derby, proved them once again for the Belmont Stakes. He said Prat will ride the Derby’s third-place runner in the June 5 Belmont Stakes. That, of course, means Michael McCarthy needs to find […]
New Jersey Jockeys Whipped Into Mutiny Over New Crop Rule
A jockeys’ mutiny for Monmouth Park’s upcoming racing season is brewing after the Superior Court of New Jersey declined a request to stay the New Jersey Racing Commission’s riding crop ban. Three jockeys, including 13-time Monmouth riding champion Joe Bravo, told Thoroughbred Daily News they will not ride at Monmouth […]
Derby Musical Jockeys: Rosario Replaces Rispoli on Rock Your World
In a case that’s flipping what-have-you-done-for-me-lately on its ear, jockey Joel Rosario will replace Umberto Rispoli aboard Rock Your World for next week’s Kentucky Derby. Rock Your World’s trainer, John Sadler, discussed the decision on the Thoroughbred Los Angeles radio show on Sunday morning. He took full responsibility for the […]
On Record Day, Rock Your World Rocks, Rolls His Way to Kentucky Derby
Rock Your World rocked the Santa Anita Derby, which rocked bettors into producing Santa Anita Park’s largest all-sources pari-mutuel Santa Anita Derby handle in 14 years. On a day where fans returned to the Southern California track for the first time in more than a year, the 8,246 attendees on […]
New COVID Protocols Scratch Saudi Cup Jockeys Rispoli, Velazquez
Star jockeys Umberto Rispoli and John Velazquez lost their mounts for Saturday’s $20 million Saudi Cup after Saudi race organizers abruptly changed their COVID-19 testing protocols. That takes Rispoli off Max Player and removes Velazquez from Tacitus. Rispoli had three mounts on the Saudi Cup card, including Cowan in the […]
United Seeks Redemption in John Henry Turf Championship
The John Henry Turf Championship is the perfect race at the perfect place for United — a meeting of opportunity and talent in a setting the standout turf runner should devour. And United has devoured Santa Anita Park. Three of his six career victories came at Santa Anita. Missing on […]
Del Mar ‘Takes Weekend Off’ After 15 Riders Test Positive for COVID-19
Del Mar abruptly canceled its weekend racing card for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday after mass testing revealed 15 jockeys are positive for COVID-19. Del Mar Thoroughbred Club CEO Joe Harper said in a statement that in the wake of numerous Southern California-based jockeys testing positive out of the Los Alamitos […]