Year of the Jockey

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Santa Anita Stakes Wins
Ancient Title BC (GI-OT)—Avanzado (2003)
Anoakia (OT)—Berriestoheaven (2006)
Blue Norther—Cee’s Irish (2005)
California Cup Juvenile (OT)—Crackup (2002)
California Cup Juvenile Fillies (OT)—Runforthemoneybaby (2007)
California Cup Starter H. (OT)—Time to Honor (2005)
Carleton F. Burke H. (GIII-OT)—Special Matter (2002)
Cavonnier (OT)—Swiss Lad (2004)
Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship (GI-OT)—Star Over the Bay (2004)
Crystal Water H.—Super Strut (2006)
El Cielo—Cayoke (2004)
El Conejo H. (GIII)—Areyoutalkintome (2005)
Harold C. Ramser, Sr. H. (GIII-OT)—Louvain (2005)
Las Palmas H. (GII-OT)—Mea Domina (2005)
Monrovia H. (GIII)—Icantgoforthat (2004); Awesome Lady (2005)
Morvich H. (GIII-OT)—Master Belt (2002)
Palos Verdes H. (GII)—Avanzado (2003); Major Success (2006)
Pro or Con H.—Super High (2004)
Robert B. Lewis (GII)—St Averil (2004)
San Fernando BC (GII)—Awesome Gem (2007)
San Luis Obispo H. (GII)—Persianlux (2001)
San Miguel (GIII)—Hosco (2004)
San Pasqual H. (GII)—Congrats (2005)
Santana Mile—Raise the Bluff (2007)
Santa Paula—Friendly Michelle (2004)
Santa Ynez (GII)—Sharp Lisa (2005)
Sunshine Millions Turf—Star Over the Bay (2005)

Other Major Stakes Wins
Alydar (Hol)—Blazing Sunset (2006)
Barona Cup (Dmr)—Shake Off (2004)
Barretts Debutante (Fpx)—Midnight Fandango (2000); Last Kiss (2002)
Bing Crosby BC H. (GI-Dmr)—Kela (2004)
Black Swan (Fpx)—Warren’s Whistle (2000)
Charles Whittingham Memorial H. (GI-Hol)—Sabiango (2004)
Del Mar H. (GII-Dmr)—Star Over the Bay (2004); Leprechaun Kid (2005)
Derby Trial (Fpx)—First Journey (2000)
Forest Hills H. (Bel)—Avanzado (2002)
Gamely BC H. (GI-Hol)—Mea Domina (2005)
Gateway to Glory (Fpx)—Skipaslew (2003)
Generous Portion (Dmr)—Coastal Strike (2004)
Haggin (Hol)—Expected Program (2001)
Hollywood Starlet (GI-Hol)—Diplomat Lady (2005)
Hollywood Turf Express (Hol)—King Robyn (2003)
Honeymoon H. (GII-Hol)—Quero Quero (2003)
Lakeview Thoroughbred Farm (Hol)—Theresa’s Year (2002)
Landaluce (Hol)—Indian Breeze (2005)
Maiden (Hol)—Lighten Up Tiny (2001)
Melair (Hol)—Leave Me Alone (2005)
Moccasin (Hol)—No Bull Baby (2004)
NTRA Great State Challenge Juvenile (Hou)—Crackup (2002)
Oceanside (Dmr)—Dr. Park (2001-2nd div.)
Osunitas H. (Dmr)—Voz De Colegiala (2004)
Palomar BC H. (GII-Dmr)—Mea Domina (2006)
Pat O’Brien BC H. (GII-Dmr)—Kela (2004)
Phil D. Shepherd (Fpx)—Literal Prowler (2001)
Pirate’s Bounty (Dmr)—Avanzado (2002); Our New Recruit (2004)
Real Good Deal (Dmr)—Waingarth (2001)
Robert K. Kerlan Memorial H. (Hol)—Railroad (2006)
Sunset H. (GII-Hol)—Star Over the Bay (2004)
Will Rogers (GIII-Hol)—Dr. Park (2001)
Willard L. Proctor Memorial (Hol)—Expected Program (2001)
Windy Sands H. (Dmr)—Wanna Runner (2007)

Highlights

• First win: Fleeting Wonder on Oct. 31, 1999 at Oak Tree.
• First Grade I win: Was gained aboard Avanzado in Oak Tree’s 2003 Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup Handicap. Experiences that year included riding in first Kentucky Derby, Breeders’ Cup race and Dubai World Cup.
• 1,000th career win: Aboard Mashiko on March 11, 2005 at Santa Anita. Finished meet in second-place tie with Rene Douglas in jockeys’ standings.
• Eclipse Award winner: In 2000 as North America’s leading apprentice jockey. Became first Southern California-based rider to gain the accomplishment since Steve Valdez in 1973. While often riding on Mondays and Tuesdays at Turf Paradise, recorded 239 victories before losing his apprenticeship on Dec. 12. His 246 winners for year topped all Southern California-based jockeys.
• Riding titles: Hollywood Park: 2004 spring/summer; Oak Tree: 2007.
• Led all riders at 2004 Hollywood Park spring/summer meet with 59 winners to achieve first riding title. At 21, was the youngest to win a Hollywood spring/summer crown since Laffit Pincay Jr. did it in 1968 when two months younger than Baze.
• Realized peak year in 2004 when mounts earned $10.1 million from 239 victories. Included were Grade I winners Star Over the Bay (Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship at Oak Tree), Sabiango (Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap at Hollywood Park) and Kela (Bing Crosby Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Del Mar).
• Following a slump that spanned some two years and corresponded to personal problems, fought his way back to prominence in late 2007 by winning Oak Tree’s riding title with 29 victories, four more than runner-up Victor Espinoza, after finishing second to perennial leader Martin Pedroza at Fairplex Park with 31 wins to Pedroza’s 35. “We’ve seen Tyler completely dive into getting back on top,” commented top trainer Doug O’Neill. “He’s in the zone, physically and mentally.” Said Baze, “I’ve learned to be appreciative. I’ll never take success for granted again.”
• Recorded first Santa Anita stakes victory aboard Persianlux ($57.20) in the San Luis Obispo Handicap on Feb. 17, 2001.
• Finished second in standings with 63 wins at 2000-01 Santa Anita meet. Runner-up to Pat Valenzuela for Oak Tree crown in 2003, 34-33.
• Spent winter 1999-2000 at Turf Paradise and rode 109 winners while posting 20.3 win percentage.
• Spent 1999 summer breaking horses for trainer John Sadler.

Personal

• Comes from famous Baze racing family of the Pacific Northwest and grew up near now-defunct Longacres. Jockey Gary Baze is Tyler’s uncle and Hall of Famer Russell Baze is a second cousin.
• Father Earl and mother Cammie also were jockeys.
• Learned ropes from veteran agent Ivan Puhich. Credits jockey Chance Rollins with teaching him much about being a successful rider.
• Missed time after 2005 Del Mar season due to eating disorder.
• His 2007 resurgence coincided with the hiring of agent Ron Ebanks earlier in the year. The jockey stopped riding, dealt with bulimia, found a fitness coach and went to AA meetings on his long climb back after struggling through a 62-race losing streak at Del Mar in 2005.