Onyx Ten takes it to 11. (The Maryland Jockey Club photo)
Teenage jockey sensation Yedsit Hazlewood earns first stakes win
Dan Illman/Laurel Park
LAUREL, Md.—Despite never riding in a sanctioned race, teenage apprentice Yedsit Hazlewood was touted to the hills upon entering the Maryland jockey colony earlier this year.
“I want to have the opportunity to talk to you a little bit,” trainer Jose Corrales said back in April.
“I ride this apprentice, who’s going to run this week,” Corrales mentioned. “This kid is from Panama. He’s been in [jockey] school in Panama, and he’s been at the racetrack since he was nine years old. He’s got so much talent. I’m thinking he’s going to be one of the Ortiz kids in the future.”
Corrales can spot talent. A successful rider with over 1,000 wins in the United States and plenty more in Macau before switching to training, Corrales has mentored other successful young riders in Maryland.
He felt that 17-year-old Yedsit Hazlewood was one of his best pupils, and his confidence has been rewarded.
Hazlewood failed to secure a victory with his first dozen mounts, but he earned his debut win on April 4. His first significant milestone came when he captured the riding title at the Maryland State Fair meeting at Timonium, and he currently sits atop the leaderboard at the Laurel Park fall meet.
Another box was ticked on Saturday when Hazlewood notched his first stakes victory aboard Onyx Ten in the $100,000 Shamrock Farm Maryland Million Distaff for fillies and mares at seven furlongs. It was the first of Hazlewood’s four winners in his first appearance in the Jim McKay Maryland Million, presented by Brown Advisory.
Trained by Gary Capuano, Onyx Ten saved ground in midpack as Green Eyed Monster set fractions of 22.97 and 46.20 seconds. Hazlewood eased out a path to split horses at the half-mile pole, then switched out another path to follow the horse to beat, defending champion Foxy Junior.
Foxy Junior looked strong turning for home, but Green Eyed Monster rebuffed her bid. Onyx Ten then took her shot from the far outside, and she passed Green Eyed Monster to prevail by 1 ¾ lengths in 1:24.34.
Foxy Junior flattened out to finish 2 ½ lengths behind in third. Next came Sheilahs Warcloud, Next Girl, Meg, Esroh, Safe Trust, Shkhara Fire, Stickwiththecolors, and Kissedbyanangel.
Onyx Ten paid $15.20 as the fourth betting choice.
“I had a good horse with the best trainer,” Hazlewood said.
After winning her first two starts this year, the Xtra Heat Stakes on Jan. 25 and the Wide Country Stakes on Feb. 22, Onyx Ten was considered one of the leading sophomore fillies in the region. Onyx Heat disappointed as the favorite in the Beyond the Wire Stakes on March 22, and Capuano decided to give her a break.
She returned with a vengeance, taking a restricted allowance at Delaware on Sept. 14.
“We ran the heck out of her last fall and this winter, and she didn’t miss a beat,” Capuano said earlier this week. “She was tailing off, so we gave her all summer off. She trained really good going into the Delaware race, and she showed that. She’s been wonderful.”
Capuano is impressed with the filly’s temperament.
“She’s pretty versatile,” he said in the winner’s circle. “She doesn’t mind dirt in her face. She can come from off the pace, stay close. She’s got a nice kick. She’s a big, strong filly.”
A homebred owned by Frank Sample, Onyx Ten is by Street Magician, has won 5 of 13 starts, and has earned $309,065.
