Rather, no one but Rose! Yay to Tim Ritchey and Cash Is King for making the decision to keep jockey Jeremy Rose on Afleet in Alex in the Kentucky Derby. (And thanks to Jolene at Oregon Racing News for passing along the link from Blood-Horse this evening.)
More: “Jeremy is absolutely thrilled,” said Kid Breeden, Rose’s agent. “He’s very happy. Make that, extremely happy.” (News Journal)
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That seems to be the thinking of trainer Tim Ritchey and Cash Is King partnership when it comes to naming a jockey to ride Afleet Alex in the Kentucky Derby:
Although Jeremy Rose rode Afleet Alex in the Arkansas Derby, and has never finished worse than second on the colt, Ritchey would not commit to Rose for the Derby. It seems Ritchey and the Cash Is King partnership which owns Afleet Alex will reach out to several better-known riders first. As of now, jockeys such as Corey Nakatani, Alex Solis, and Patrick Valenzuela don’t have commitments. Gary Stevens is not available because he will ride Noble Causeway, trainer Nick Zito said. Edgar Prado had been riding both Noble Causeway and Sun King, and chose to remain with Sun King.
“We have a couple of different options, and Jeremy is definitely one of them,” Ritchey said. “We’ve just got to think about what we’re going to do, and what’s best for the horse.” (Daily Racing Form)
Rose, to his credit, is handling the question of whether he or another jockey will ride Alex in the Derby with grace and professionalism:
A team player, he stood with his back to the dark racetrack and answered the question with: “If they name me on, they name me on.” (Arkansas News Service)
Afleet Alex’s first place finish in the Arkansas Derby was Rose’s 48th win at Oaklawn this meet, earning him the track’s riding title.
Posted by JC in Racing on 04/19/2005 @ 10:55 am / Tagged Kentucky Derby / Follow @railbird on Twitter
– Pimlico opens for eight weeks of racing. The track will offer 26 stakes races worth a total $2.9 million. (WP)
– A dislike of dirt riding hampers champion British jockey Kieren Fallon. “His distaste for the stuff makes it unlikely he will persevere. And in an age of international racing, this is very much to Fallon’s detriment.” (Times)
– Breaking in: Apprentice rider Jordan Charkoudian is off to a good start at Tampa Bay Downs, with 13 wins out of 200 mounts in 10 months and the support of fellow female riders like Jill Jellison (TBO); apprentice Cherell Smith had it a bit rougher at the Fair Grounds this winter. (TP)
– California trainers flee to Iowa to avoid expensive workman’s comp bills. “For every $100, we have to pay the insurance companies $40,” said Nick Canani. “It’s just very, very expensive. A lot of trainers from California are leaving this year and going to other places.” (Reg.)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com
Posted by JC in Miscellany on 04/19/2005 @ 10:00 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter
– Unbelievable: “The brilliant Megahertz rallied from last to win the $200,000 Santa Barbara Handicap before an adoring crowd for a record third consecutive year at Santa Anita on Sunday.” (DRF)
– Lone Star cashes in on bargain bets. With the introduction of 10-cent superfectas and a 50-cent Pick 4, wagering on the exotic bets has increased substantially. Superfecta bets are up 61% and Pick 4 wagers up 36% from a year ago. (ST)
– “You expect a Louisville legend to do something legendary. It didn’t happen, architecturally, with the $121 million expansion of Churchill Downs.” The expansion is practical, but without charm, says local columnist. (CJ)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com
Posted by JC in Miscellany on 04/18/2005 @ 8:55 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter
