Year of the Jockey
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Santa Anita Stakes Wins
Buena Vista H. (GII)—
Uraib (2005)
California Cup Starter Sprint H. (OT)—Phar to Win (2006)
Cavonnier (OT)—Nevada Worrier (2007)
Frank E. Kilroe Mile (GI)—Leroidesanimaux (2005)
Hidden Light (OT)—Cross (2005)
Irish O’Brien—Cambiocorsa (2006)
La Habra—Super Freaky (2007)
Las Cienegas H. (GIII)—Cambiocorsa (2006)
Morvich H. (GIII-OT)—Leroidesanimaux (2004)
Pinjara (OT)—Veiled Speed (2004)
Providencia (GIII)—Super Freaky (2007)
San Luis Rey H. (GII)—King’s Drama (2006)
Santa Margarita H. (GI)—Healthy Addiction (2006)
Santa Ynez (GII)—Dance Daily (2006)
Sen. Ken Maddy H. (GIII-OT)—Cambiocorsa (2006)
Sunshine Millions F&M Sprint—Valentine Dancer (2004)
Tokyo City Cup H. (GIII)—Preachinatthebar (2006)
Other Major Stakes Wins
Ack Ack H. (GIII-CD)—Cappuchino (2003)
Ack Ack (Hol)—Taste of Paradise (2004)
Aegon Turf Sprint (GIII-CD)—Fiscally Speaking (2003)
Affirmed H. (GIII-Hol)—Indian Ocean (2005)
Bing Crosby H. (GI-Dmr)—Pure as Gold (2006)
Cardinal H. (CD)—Illiquidity (2001)
Churchill Downs Distaff H. (GII-CD)—Softly (2002)
Citation H. (GI-Hol)—Leroidesanimaux (2004)
Clement L. Hirsch H. (GII-Dmr)—Miss Loren (2004)
Daisycutter H. (Dmr)—Starkay (2006)
Foothill (Fpx)—Diligent Prospect (2005)
Ford Express (LS)—Rodeo’s Castle (2005)
Fran’s Valentine (Hol)—Valentine Dancer (2005)
Golden Rod (GIII-CD)—Humble Clerk (1999); Belterra (2001)
Holiday Inaugural (EP)—Miss Steffens (2000)
Indiana Derby (GIII-Hoo)—Perfect Drift (2002); Excessivepleasure (2003)
Inglewood H. (GIII-Hol)—Leroidesanimaux (2004)
Iowa Derby (Prm)—Excessivepleasure (2003)
Japan Cup Dirt (GI-TRC)—Fleet Street Dancer (2003)
Kentucky BC H. (EP)—Leelanau (2001)
Kentucky Cup Turf (EP)—Chorwon (2003)
Locust Grove (CD)—Colstar (2001)
Lone Star Derby (LSP)—Percy Hope (2001); Southern Africa (2005)
Lone Star Park H. (LS)—Supah Blitz (2005)
Los Angeles H. (GIII-Hol)—Pohave (2004; Sailors Sunset (2007)
Moccasin (Hol)—Quick Little Miss (2006)
Pin Oaks Stud USA (LS)—Mad Adam (2005)
Ralph M. Hinds Pomona Inv. H. (Fpx)—Southern Africa (2006)
Rolling Green (GG)—Capitano (2005)
Silverbulletday (GIII-FG)—Take Charge Lady (2002)
Stonerside (LS)—R Fast Lady (2005)
Sport Page H. (Bel)—Gotaghostofachance (2005)
Sunshine Millions F&M Turf (GP)—Valentine Dancer (2005)
Texas Mile (LS)—Preachinatthebar (2006)
Turf Paradise H. (TuP)—Capitano (2006)
Vernon Underwood (GIII-Hol)—Sailors Sunset (2006)
West Virginia Derby (Mnr)—Da Devil (1998)
Wilshire H. (GIII-Hol)—Pickle (2005)
Wishing Well (Hol)—Cambiocorsa (2006)
Highlights
- 3,000th career victory: Aboard Brite Loreli at Santa Anita on April 7, 2005, coming 25 years to the day he broke his maiden atop Neva’s Hope at nowdefunct Centennial Park near Denver where he began his riding career. “I feel very honored and privileged to do it here at Santa Anita,” he said after reaching the milestone. “This is the ultimate place to win it.”
- Riding Titles: Oaklawn Park (2000); Hoosier Park (1996, 1997); Birmingham Park (1987).
- Regular rider of Cambiocorsa, the 4-year-old gray filly who extended her unbeaten streak over Santa Anita’s downhill turf course to six during the 2005-06 meet. “I’ve been riding for 25 years, and I’ve never been involved with a horse who’s won this many in a row,” he said following win No. 6, Cambiocorsa’s fifth at the meet in the GII Las Cienegas Handicap. Court had been aboard for five of the consecutive course wins. He was in the saddle when she won her eighth in a row in Oak Tree’s Grade III Sen. Ken Maddy Handicap before the streak ended while carrying 125 pounds in the $150,000 Cal Cup Distaff won by River’s Prayer.
- Rode Fleetstreet Dancer to victory in 2003 Japan Cup Dirt, winning the $2-million, Group I race by a nose at 48-1 for trainer Doug O’Neill. It was his first Grade I or Group I win and foreshadowed a move from the Midwest to Southern California, largely at the urging of O’Neill, in March of 2004.
- Has added three other Grade I triumphs since relocating. They include a pair aboard 2005 Turf champion Leroidesanimaux for trainer Bobby Frankel: Oak Tree’s 2004 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap and Hollywood Park’s 2005 Citation Handicap. Added Santa Anita’s Santa Margarita Handicap while riding Healthy Addiction in 2006.
- Won $414,700 Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park aboard Excessivepleasure for O’Neill in 2003 while still based in Kentucky. Rode more victories in Kentucky than any other rider in 2001 and 2002.
- Most successful rider ever at Ellis Park in Kentucky. Captured Arkansas’ Oaklawn Park riding title in 2000 with 69 victories. Won riding titles at Hoosier Park in Indiana in 1996 and 1997.
- Won first riding title in 1987 at now-defunct Birmingham Race Course in Alabama.
Personal
- Raised in Ponce Inlet, Florida. Father-in-law is trainer W. H. (Jinks) Fires, the brother of jockey Earlie Fires.
- He and wife, Krystal, became grandparents in 2005.
- When completes his daily horseback duties at Santa Anita, rides a motorcycle to his home in LaVerne.


Jon Court