Oaklawn Park News
Six-time Oaklawn Park riding champion Ricardo Santana Jr. moved closer to a career milestone after recording one winner on Friday’s card.
Santana’s victory aboard Firecrow ($8) in the eighth race was the jockey’s 498th at Oaklawn, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. Santana was Oaklawn’s leading rider in 2013-2018 and finished second last year. Santana’s 1,000th career North American victory came April 12, 2018, at Oaklawn Park aboard Westfest for the jockey’s main client, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Westfest is entered in Saturday’s eighth race.
Santana, 27, is riding Saturday at Fair Grounds. He is named on six horses Sunday at Oaklawn Park and seven Monday, including Bankit in the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) for older horses and Silver Prospector in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds. Both horses are trained by Asmussen, who has led the local standings 10 times since 2007.
Santana began riding at Oaklawn Park in 2011 and ended Friday with 498 victories, including 35 stakes, from 2,538 mounts and purse earnings of $23,563,522. Santana had 13 victories at the meet through Friday, one less than leader and defending champion David Cohen.
Ron Moquett of Hot Springs trains Firecrow for Robert LaPenta and Harlow Stables LLC (Eric Johnson).
