Jockey Santiago Gonzalez is becoming known as one of the best turf riders at Del Mar, and that talent was in full display last Wednesday. In a 1 1/16 miles turf allowance race, Gonzalez and Frandontjudge were breaking from the very difficult outside post in a field of nine coming out of the chute. Most horses lose a great deal of ground as the chute meets the main course, but Gonzalez was able to guide his mount smoothly to the rail. Saving all the ground, Frandontjudge was in last place until the stretch turn. Gonzalez let his mount go...

Melatonin was coming back from an extended layoff in a six furlong allowance race at Del Mar, a race loaded with early speed. As the #3 horse, Melatonin broke from the inside in a large field, so early position would be critical. Jockey Joe Talamo broke Melatonin perfectly and was right on the lead a few jumps out of the gate. That is where Talamo made a move (or lack thereof) to win the race. Talamo was able to ease Melatonin off a fast pace contested by four horses and sat chilly, saving all the ground around the turn....

It is not very often that a maiden claimer is selected as the Jockey Draft Ride of the Week, but Russell Baze’s Hall of Fame style made it a special Saturday at Santa Rosa. The 10th race was a fitting exclamation point on another four win day for the veteran rider who had celebrated his 57th birthday the day before. So how did Baze accomplish career victory 12,624? It was a perfectly timed last to first ride aboard Mucho Blessings, who was the second favorite in the 1 1/16 miles turf race. Coming out of the gate, Mucho Blessings...

One of jockey Rafael Bejarano’s greatest strengths as a rider is his confidence. He is willing to change tactics to fit the way a race shapes up. That talent was in full view in Saturday’s seventh race at Del Mar, as Bejarano guided Patitude from last to first to score in a five furlong turf allowance race. Breaking from the eight post, Bejarano made his decision quickly.  He guided Patitude, who had run most her races on or near the lead, to the rail. Bejarano was content to allow the rest of the field to fight for the early...

On Santa Anita’s final day of the meet, Kent Desormeaux had a fairy tale ending by upsetting the field in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano aboard Crucero. The 5 year old went off at odds of 23-1 and was unhurried to stalk the pace in third behind the leaders Tiz Futurity and the favorite Going Somewhere (BRZ). Desormeaux sat Crucero perfectly along the inside and managed to save plenty of ground until he was forced to the four path by Decisive Edge coming for home. Desormeaux said, “It didn’t play out exactly like I thought it would but I liked my...

Patience is a virtue, and jockey Junior Alvarado showed that talent in winning Saturday’s ninth race at Belmont Park aboard GR’s Giant. In the seven furlong maiden special weight for New York-breds, GR’s Giant was an outsider despite finishing second in his last three starts.  Although Alvarado broke GR’s Giant perfectly, he allowed the son of Frost Giant to settle well behind the speedball Dusk to Dawn.  Sensing a brisk early pace, Alvarado was content in fifth place without asking his mount on the turn. In recent races GR’s Giant had been closer to the front-runners, so there was...