Jockeys Race a Foregone Conclusion
DEL MAR, Calif.— Bob Baffert has assumed the top spot in the trainer standings as we enter the second to last week of the summer meet at Del Mar. Buoyed by his win in the G2 Pat O’Brien last Saturday, Baffert has won 14 races this season, one better than Phil D’Amato and Doug O’Neill at 13 victories and two up on Peter Miller and Jonathan Wong at 12.
Wong had an incredible week of racing, winning seven races.
“We got lucky, the horses ran really well,” Wong said after his three-win day last Thursday. “I thought they all had a chance.”
George Papaprodromou (11), John Sadler (10), Mark Glatt (9), Andy Mathis (7), and Jeff Mullins (6) round out the top 10.
Juan Hernandez continues to maintain a strong grip on the number one spot in the jockey standings. He’s won 39 races including a sweep of the two Graded stakes last weekend. Saturday he won on Laurel River in the G2 Pat O’Brien and Sunday he rode Edgeway to victory in the G3 Rancho Bernardo.
“I’m really happy,” Hernandez says. “I’ve been lucky to have a lot of support from the owners and the trainers.”
Hernandez has won 27% of his 147 mounts and finished in the money 59% of the time. He’s piled up $2,697,186 in earnings.
Umberto Rispoli is a distant second in the standings with 23 wins followed by Ramon Vazquez with 18, Joe Bravo with 14 and Abel Cedillo with 12.
“We started a little bit slow,” Cedillo says about his meet, “but I was confident and my agent (Tom Knust) does a really good job, too.”
He says he’s not watching the standings.
“No, not really,” Cedillo says. “I just ride with confidence and try to win a couple of races and try to do better and better.”
Tied with Cedillo at 12 victories are Mike Smith and Edwin Maldonado. Rounding out the top 10 in the rider standings are Hector Berrios (10), Kyle Frey (8) and Florent Geroux, Ryan Curatolo and Mario Gutierrez tied with 7.
The partnership of Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman are knotted with Hronis Racing for the most wins by owners with six each. Tommy Town Thoroughbreds are right there with five victories.
DMTC Press Release
Photo: Bob Baffert (Benoit Photo)
