Jockeys Out

RUFFIAN · #1 03-20-2020, 01:35 PM

ORTIZ, MARAGH, SANTANA ALL HAVE STOPPED RIDING

I fear this is only the tip of the iceberg

But can you blame them trying to keep their loved ones safe

JolyB · #2 03-20-2020, 04:06 PM

We'll need to keep an eye on the changes for the Fair Grounds tomorrow. Ricardo Santana is riding this afternoon at Oaklawn and has been named on quite a few runners at the Fair Grounds on the LA Derby card, including major contenders in some of the graded stakes for Steve Asmussen [e.g. Silver State, Finite and Gun It].

RUFFIAN · #3 03-20-2020, 05:26 PM

It was the racing office personnel at the FAIR GROUNDS
Who told me directly on the telephone
that SANTANA is taking off Riding for now

JolyB · #4 03-20-2020, 08:30 PM

Not questioning your information, just suggesting that from a handicapping point of view, changing jockeys from Asmussen's top "go to" rider to another jockey who doesn't have the familiarity with some of these horses that Santana does might be a reason to think more carefully about their chances.

I don't blame any rider who doesn't want to travel from Hot Springs to New Orleans in this current situation.

JolyB · #5 03-21-2020, 10:03 AM

Based on the list of scratches and changes at 10:49 EDT, Irad Ortiz, Tyler Gaffalione and Luis Saez have relinquished mounts at the Fair Grounds today. Each of them would have had to travel to NO for today's races and may have found that too difficult. So far, Ricardo Santana is on all of his mounts and in fact has picked up one more in Race 2. Perhaps more changes to come.

JolyB · #6 03-22-2020, 09:21 AM

To continue this thread, here is a link to an interesting article in DRF about the consequences of Ricardo Santana's decision to ride at the Fair Grounds yesterday. Upon his return to Oaklawn, his regular track, he faces a lengthy quarantine period and had to take himself off of his mounts today.

After all of that difficulty, it is a shame that Finite, probably the primary reason he went to NOLA, performed so poorly in the LA Oaks. His agent was quoted as saying, "We cannot not show up for the biggest day of the year at Fair Grounds"

These riders have to go through a lot to ply their trade. We never really consider the logistics some of them have to handle to honor race calls at various tracks.

https://www.drf.com/news/santana-mis...due-quarantine

cal828 · #7 03-22-2020, 11:21 AM

I'm sure that there are lots of financial rewards for those that are as successful as Santana, but it has got to be a difficult job even outside the dangerous part of it. Wonder how many times riders have to fly back and forth across the country in any given year to ply their trade? Not difficult to see how some of them get involved with booze and drugs. They must meet themselves coming and going as the old saying goes.

cal828 · #8 03-22-2020, 11:28 AM

Just curious. What did you think of the ride that Silver Dust got yesterday? I usually don't complain about jockeys, but was that an impatient ride or was that by design or maybe just an uncontrollable horse?

RUFFIAN · #9 03-22-2020, 11:51 AM

BloodHorse
NEWS ALERT
Dubai World Cup Day Canceled Due to COVID-19

JolyB · #10 03-22-2020, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cal828

Just curious. What did you think of the ride that Silver Dust got yesterday? I usually don't complain about jockeys, but was that an impatient ride or was that by design or maybe just an uncontrollable horse?

Tough question to answer. I thought I noticed that Silver Dust was acting up in the gate and then bobbled badly coming out of the gate. At that point, the horse moved quickly to the lead and maintained that lead through some fairly quick fractions until he was caught and faded badly. It is difficult for me to believe that an experienced jockey like Hernandez would feel it wise to attempt to make up ground and get the lead so dramatically. I had the sense that he may have given his horse some urging to get him running and the horse did what was asked of him and a whole lot more. But I have nothing but my gut to base that on. Clearly, whatever the reason, SD was moving like a quarter horse for a short while.

cal828 · #11 03-22-2020, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JolyB

Tough question to answer. I thought I noticed that Silver Dust was acting up in the gate and then bobbled badly coming out of the gate. At that point, the horse moved quickly to the lead and maintained that lead through some fairly quick fractions until he was caught and faded badly. It is difficult for me to believe that an experienced jockey like Hernandez would feel it wise to attempt to make up ground and get the lead so dramatically. I had the sense that he may have given his horse some urging to get him running and the horse did what was asked of him and a whole lot more. But I have nothing but my gut to base that on. Clearly, whatever the reason, SD was moving like a quarter horse for a short while.

Yes, I was focused on him and he was clearly ready to shoot out of there, but hopped when the gate opened and then shot to the lead, but I thought that was possibly by design since they probably thought they might need to, if Pletcher's horse had shown up which he clearly didn't and as you pointed out neither did Finite in her race. In any case, it was a disappointment because he clearly seemed to be the second best horse in the race and had already beaten a couple of those horses that finished ahead of him, but
that's racing. What we expect just doesn't happen all that often and I guess we're foolish for thinking it should.

Plenilune · #12 03-22-2020, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RUFFIAN-333

BloodHorse
NEWS ALERT
Dubai World Cup Day Canceled Due to COVID-19

Thank you Ruff. Just wanted to include a link for more details.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-rac...ue-to-covid-19

Mean while, the U.S. tracks are scrambling to figure out what races will be run when. Travers, oh boy. Talk is rescheduling it a few weeks before the normal Sept end date. Haskell? Maybe these might be considered as points races toward the KY Derby? I wonder if the Jim Dandy will just be canceled this year. Keeneland is talking about the possibility of adding dates to their fall meet. What a mess. Very confusing and anxious times.

Alabama Stakes · #13 04-24-2020, 08:48 PM

Irad returns to gulf on Saturday.
The bug boy from Panama looks like the next Edgar Prado. The kid’s name is Trejos and is a must use in any turf race.
Berrios also is way better on the turf than the others down there and should be included in turf races.

DonGuido · #14 04-25-2020, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alabama Stakes

Irad returns to gulf on Saturday.
The bug boy from Panama looks like the next Edgar Prada. The kidd name is Trejos and is a must use in any turf race.
Berrios also is way better on the turf than the others down there and should be included in turf races.

Good info. Thanks AS

DonGuido · #15 04-25-2020, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RUFFIAN-333

BloodHorse
NEWS ALERT
Dubai World Cup Day Canceled Due to COVID-19

That sucks!!!

Alabama Stakes · #16 05-22-2020, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alabama Stakes

Irad returns to gulf on Saturday.
The bug boy from Panama looks like the next Edgar Prado. The kid’s name is Trejos and is a must use in any turf race.
Berrios also is way better on the turf than the others down there and should be included in turf races.

It would be cool if Trejos goes to New York this summer. Best young bug rider around.

Plenilune · #17 05-23-2020, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alabama Stakes

It would be cool if Trejos goes to New York this summer. Best young bug rider around.

He's been a fun one to follow!

Alabama Stakes · #18 05-23-2020, 11:30 AM

I like him in the first and second at Gulfstream especially the guy in Race 2. The hoss he gets on in the first got a lousy ride last time and should improve today. He’s sitting at 25-1.