Year of the Jockey

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Breeders' Cup Wins
Juvenile (GI)—Stevie Wonderboy (2005-Bel)
Juvenile Fillies (GI)—Indian Blessing (2007-Mth)
Mile (GI)—Artie Schiller (2005-Bel)
Sprint (GI)—Midnight Lute (2007-Mth)

Santa Anita Stakes Wins
Anoakia (OT)—Ponche de Leona (2001)
Baldwin (GIII)—Fast Parade (2006)
Blue Norther—Make Mine Minnie (2006)
California Breeders’ Champion (Colts)—Pirates Deputy (2006)
California Cup Classic H. (OT)—Budroyale (1998)
California Cup Distaff H. (OT)—Chichim (1999)
California Cup Mile H. (OT)—Native Desert (1999)
California Cup Sprint H. (OT)—Love That Red (1999)
California Cup Starter H. (OT)—Ata Olympio (2004)
California Cup Starter Sprint H. (OT)—Bordonaro (2005)
Carleton F. Burke H. (GIII)—Spring House (2007)
Cavonnier (OT)—Direct Connect (2005)
Daytona H.—Royal Place (2005)
El Conejo H. (GIII)—The Exeter Man (1998); Harvard Avenue (2007)
El Encino (GII)—Fleet Lady (1998)
Frank E. Kilroe Mile (GI)—Lord Smith (GII-1999)
Goodwood BC H. (GII-OT)—Budroyale (1999)
Harold C. Ramser Sr. H. (OT)—Cindy's Hero (2001)
Hill Rise—Objective (2006)
Impressive Luck H.—Fast Parade (2007)
Kalookan Queen—Tizakitty (2005)
La Brea (GI)—Pussycat Doll (2005)
La Cañada (GII)—Fleet Lady (1998)
La Puente—Fighting Falcon (1999)
Lady’s Secret BC H. (GII-OT)—Healthy Addiction (2005)
Las Palmas H. (GII-OT)—Golden Apples (2001)
Las Virgenes (GI)—Rags to Riches (2007)
Malibu (GI)—Love That Red (1999)
Monrovia H. (GIII)—Society Hostess (2007)
Morvich H. (GIII-OT)—Musafi (1998)
Palos Verdes H. (GII)—Friendly Island (2007)
Paseana H.—Healthy Addiction (2006)
Potrero Grande BC H. (GII)—Son of a Pistol (1998); Harvard Avenue (2005)
Pro or Con H.—Dancing General (2007)
San Antonio H. (GII)—Budroyale (2000); Molengao (2007)
San Carlos H. (GII)—Son of a Pistol (2000)
San Fernando BC (GII)—Western Pride (2002); Unbridled Energy (2006)
San Gorgonio H. (GII)—Lady At Peace (2000)
San Luis Obispo H. (GII)—Obrigado (2007)
San Luis Rey H. (GII)—Fourty Niners Son (2007)
San Miguel—Too Much Bling (2006)
Santa Ana H. (GII)—Golden Apples (2002)
Santa Anita Oaks (GI)—Rags to Riches (2007)
Santa Maria H. (GI)—India Divina (1999)
Santa Monica H. (GI)—Pussycat Doll (2007)
Santa Ysabel (GIII )—Nonies Dancer Ali (1998); Baroness Thatcher (2007)
San Vicente (GII)—Too Much Bling (2006)
Sham (GIII)—Ravel (2007)
Some Sensation—Fantastic Filly (2001)
Strub (GII)—Arson Squad (2007)
Sunshine Millions Sprint—Red Warrior (2005)
Tokyo City Cup H. (GIII)—Futural (GII-2001)
Yellow Ribbon (GI-OT)—Wait a While (2006)

Other Major Stakes Wins
Ack Ack H. (GIII-Hol)—Grey Memo (2001)
Allaire duPont BC Distaff (GII-Pim)—Rolling Sea (2007)
American Derby (GII-AP)—Honor Glide (1997)
American H. (GII-Hol)—Takarian (1999, 2001)
American Oaks (GI-Hol)—Wait a While (2006)
Answer Do (Hol)—Love That Red (1999)
Arkansas Derby (GII-OP)—Concern (1994); Dazzling Falls (1995)
Arlington Classic (GII-AP)—Honor Glide (1997)
Arlington Heights Oaks (GIII-AP)—Pleasant Baby (1992); Minister’s Melody (1997)
Audrey Skirball-Kenis (Hol)—Hucking Hot (2007)
Ballston Spa H. (GII-Sar)—My Typhoon (2006); Wait a While (2007)
Bashford Manor (GIII-CD)—Hyroglyphic (1994)
Bay Meadows H. (GIII-BM)—Devine Wind (2000)
Bay Shore (GIII-Aqu)—Too Much Bling (2006)
Bernard Baruch H. (GII-Sar)—Ashkal Way (2006)
Blue Grass (GI-Kee)—Sinister Minister (2006)
Bowling Green H. (GII-Bel)—Sunriver (2007)
Brooklyn H. (GII)—Any Given Saturday (2007)
California Sire (Hol)—Winston Chi (2001)
Californian (GII-Hol)—Skimming (2001)
Cat’s Cradle H. (Hol)—Gn. Group Meeting (2006)
Charles Whittingham Memorial H. (GI-Hol)—Denon (2002)
Churchill Downs H. (GIII-CD)—Honor The Hero (1994)
Cigar Mile H. (GI-Aqu)—Purge (2005); Discreet Cat (2006)
Cinema BC H. (GIII-Hol)—Willow O’ Wisp (2005)
Citation H. (GI-Hol)—Military (GII-1998); Ashkal Way (2006)
Clark H. (GIII-CD)—Zeeruler (1992)
Dahlia H. (GII-Hol)—Lady At Peace (1999); Verruma (2001)
Dallas Turf Cup H. (LS)—El Gran Papa (2001); Embossed (2007)
Del Mar Debutante (GI-Dmr)—Cindy’s Hero (2000)
Del Mar Derby (GII-Dmr)—Willow O' Wisp (2005)
Del Mar Futurity (GII-Dmr)—Stevie Wonderboy (2005)
Del Mar Mile (GII-Dmr)—Crossing the Line (2007)
Del Mar Oaks (GI-Dmr)—Golden Apples (2001)
Doubledogdare (GIII-Kee)—Asi Siempre (2007)
Dwyer (GII-Bel)—Any Given Saturday (2007)
Dynasty (Sar)—Meribel (2006)
Floral Park H. (GIII-Bel)—Win McCool (2006)
Foresta (Bel)—Meribel (2007)
Franklin County (Kee)—Stylish Wildcat (2007)
Fran’s Valentine (Hol)—Nashoba’s Key (2007)
Franklin County (Kee)—Society Hostess (2006)
Frizette (GI-Bel)—Indian Blessing (2007)
Garden City BC (GI-Bel)—Magnificent Song (2006)
Genuine Risk BC H. (GII-Bel)—Behaving Badly (2006)
Giant’s Causeway (Kee)—Forest Code (2007)
Godolphin Mile (GII-Nad)—Spring at Last (2007)
Harry W. Henson BC H. (Sun)—Eyes on Eddy (2007)
Haskell Invitational H. (GI-Mth)—Any Given Saturday (2007)
Hawthorne Derby (GIII-Haw)—Snake Eyes (1993)
Hillsborough (GIII-BM)—I’m the Business (2002)
Hollywood BC Oaks (GII-Hol)—Adoration (2002)
Hollywood Turf Cup (GI-Hol)—Boboman (2006)
Hopeful (GI-Sar)—Circular Quay (2006); Majestic Warrior (2007)
Humana Distaff H. (GI-CD)—Pussycat Doll (2006)
Iroquois H. (Bel)—Karakorum Starlet (2007)
Iroquois (GIII-CD)—Tiz Wonderful (2006)
Jerome BC H. (GII-Bel)—Discreet Cat (2006)
Jersey Derby (Mth)—Buddy’s Humor (2007)
Jim Murray Memorial H. (GIII-Hol)—Runaway Dancer (2005)
Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI-Bel)—Borrego (2005)
John Morrisey (Sar)—Gold and Roses (2006)
Kentucky Jockey Club (GIII-CD)—War Deputy (1993)
Kentucky Oaks (GI-CD)—Rags to Riches (2007)
La Jolla H. (GII-Dmr)—Willow O' Wisp (2005)
Lake George (GIII-Sar)—Rutherienne (2007)
Lake Placid (GII-Sar)—Wait a While (2006)
Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (GII-Kee)—Captain Steve (1999)
Lazaro S. Barrera Memorial (GII-Hol)—Love That Red (1999)
Lone Star Park H. (GIII-LS)—Bob and John (2007)
Longacres Mile H. (GIII-EmD)—Budroyale (1999)
Magali Farms (Hol)—Rare Exchange (2007)
Matchmaker (GIII-Mth)—Roshani (2007)
Melair (Hol)—She’s an Eleven (2006)
Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial H. (GII-FG)—Lord Smith (1999)
Mervyn LeRoy H. (GII-Hol)—Budroyale (1999)
Miesque (GIII-Hol)—Star’s Proud Penny (1997); Fantastic Filly (2000)
Mike Lee (Bel)—Chief Lake (2007)
Miss Woodford (Mth)—Coco Belle (2007)
Moccasin (Hol)—Spring Awakening (2007)
National Jockey Club (GIII-Spt)—Bucks Nephew (1997)
Native Diver H. (GIII-Hol)—Trotamondo (2005); Saint Stephen (2006)
New Orleans H. (GII-FG)—Latin American (1993)
Northern Dancer BC (GIII-CD)—High Cotton (2006)
Oceanside (Dmr)—Becrux (2005-1st div.)
Oklahoma Derby (RP)—Top Hit (2001)
On Trust (Hol)—Grey Memo (2000)
Ouija Board Distaff H. (GIII-LS)—Lady of Venice (2007)
Pacific Classic (GI-Dmr)—Skimming (2000, 2001); Borrego (2005)
Phoenix BC (GIII-Kee)—Five Star Day (2000)
Pocahantas (GIII-CD)—Change Up (2006)
Poker H. (GIII-Bel)—Art Master (2007)
Prairie Meadow Cornhusker (PM)—Euchre (2001)
Remington Green H. (RP)—Gauntlet Boy (1989); Latin American (1992)
Remington Park Derby (RP)—Marked Tree (1993); Dazzling Falls (1995)
Round Table (AP)—World Class Splash (GIII-1992)
Rushaway (TP)—Ronton (2000)
San Diego H. (GII-Dmr)—Skimming (2000, 2001)
Sands Point (Bel)—Wait a While (2006); Rutherinne (GIII-2007)
Saratoga Dew (Sar)—Judy Soda (2006)
Schenectady H. (Bel)—Oprah Winney (2007)
Secretariat (GI-AP)—Honor Glide (1997)
Select (Mth)—Cobalt Blue (2007)
Senorita (GIII-Hol)—Fantastic Filly (2001); Adoration (2002)
Shadwell Turf Mile (GI-Kee)—Aussie Rules (2006)
Shakertown (GIII-Kee)—Atticus Kristy (2006)
Sharp Cat (Hol)—Runway Rosie (2006)
Sir Barton (GIII-Pim)—High Cotton (2006)
Sheepshead Bay H. (GIII-Bel)—Honey Rider (2006)
Spinster (GI-Kee)—Panty Raid (2007)
Stars and Stripes BC Turf (GIII-AP)—Blair’s Cove (1991)
Sycamore BC (GIII-Kee)—Revved Up (2006)
Three Chimneys Spinster (GI-Kee )—Plenty of Light (2000)
Ticonderoga H. (Bel)—Rewrite (2007)
Valley View (GIII-Kee)—Meribel (2006)
Virginia Derby (GII-Cnl)—Go Between (2006)
Vosburgh (GI-Bel)—Taste of Paradise (2005)
Wickerr (Dmr)—Tsigane (2005)
Woodbine Mile (GI-WO)—Shakespeare (2007)
Wood Memorial (GI-Aqu)—Bob and John (2006)
Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI-CD)—English Channel (2006)
Yerba Buena BC H. (GIII-GG)—Blending Element (1999)

Highlights

• Riding titles: Santa Anita: (2006-07 tie); Oak Tree: (2005); Hollywood Park:
  (spring/summer 2005; fall, 1998, 2006).
• 2,000th career win: Scoring on Adalgisa at Del Mar on Aug. 10, 2002.
• 1,000th win: 1995 at Oaklawn Park.
• Realized a remarkable season in 2007 when he broke Jerry Bailey’s North American record for most stakes wins in a season, earned his second Bill Shoemaker Award for riding excellence on Breeders’ Cup Day and, after his mounts had earned a career high $20.1 million in 2006 to lead the nation, surpassed that figure following the Breeders’ Cup on Oct. 27 and had exceeded $20.2 million with nearly two months left in the year.
• Broke Bailey’s 2003 record of 70 stakes victories on Nov. 11, 2007 at Hollywood Park when taking the $108,100 Moccasin Stakes with Spring Awakening, one day after the 35-year-old rider had equaled the mark aboard Hucking Hot in the $68,650 Audrey Skirball-Kenis Stakes. “It feels like we’ve really accomplished something,” he said following the Moccasin. “It has been slowly sinking in.”
• Was voted his second Shoemaker Award after victories at Monmouth Park in the Sprint aboard Midnight Lute and in the Juvenile Fillies aboard Indian Blessing, both for trainer Bob Baffert. “Last year was beyond my expectations,” he commented, “and so is this year.” Began 2007 by tying Victor Espinoza for the lead in the jockeys’ standings at Santa Anita at 83 wins apiece.
• Two seasons into his dramatic comeback led all North American jockeys with purse earnings of $20,122,592 in 2006 after riding 34 graded stakes winners, 12 of them achieved in Grade I events, while splitting his time between Santa Anita and the New York circuit.
• Gained national prominence in 2005, his first full season of riding since having dealt with substance abuse problems that kept him from racing for almost two years: Dec. 12, 2002 through Sept. 10, 2004. His stellar comeback season was highlighted by winning the prestigious Shoemaker Award for outstanding performance by a jockey in 2005 Breeders’ Cup when he won Juvenile aboard Stevie Wonderboy, Mile on Artie Schiller and missed by a head in Sprint aboard Taste of Paradise.
• In 2005, his mounts earned a then career-high $14.2 million as he ranked fifth nationally while winning seven Grade I races and leading all Southern California jockeys with 245 victories. Million-dollar race wins aside from the Breeders’ Cup included Del Mar’s Pacific Classic and Belmont’s Jockey Club Gold Cup aboard Borrego.
• Victory with Borrego in the 15th running of the Pacific Classic was his third in Del Mar’s signature race, more than any other rider, after having scored back-toback wins atop Skimming in 2000 and 2001.
• Won his first riding title in seven years in 2005 when he topped standings at Hollywood Park’s spring/summer meet with 62 wins before adding the Oak Tree title with 44 wins.
• Moved tack to New York in 2006 when afforded an opportunity to ride for top Eastern trainer Todd Pletcher after two time Eclipse Award-winning jockey John Velazquez sustained multiple injuries in an April 20 spill. “Anytime you get the opportunity to ride for a first-class operation like Todd’s, you’d be foolish not to do it,” he said. With Velazquez sidelined, teamed with Pletcher to win Churchill Downs’ Grade I Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes with English Channel and three stakes on the 2006 Preakness Day undercard at Pimlico Race Course. Rode the winners of four graded stakes during the 2006 Saratoga meet.
• One day after his repeat Pacific Classic victory in 2001 scored his second Grade I win of the weekend on Golden Apples in the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks. One week after his first with Skimming in 2001 took another Grade I, the $250,000 Del Mar Debutante aboard Cindy’s Hero. The 2000 Pacific Classic triumph ended a streak of second-place finishes aboard Budroyale in million-dollar races including the 1999 Hollywood Gold Cup, 1999 Breeders’ Cup Classic and 2000 Santa Anita Handicap.
• Rode Honor Glide during his sweep of Arlington Park’s 1997 Mid-America Triple. Honor Glide, who completed the turf series sweep in the GI Secretariat, was the first horse to gain that accomplishment since Buckpasser in 1966.
• Won five races on a single card at Arlington Park on July 11, 1991.
• Made presence felt at 1992 Oaklawn Park meeting when he led perennial Oaklawn leader Pat Day into the final day of the meeting, only to have Day edge him for the riding title, 64-62.
• Second-leading apprentice of 1989 in races won (189).

Personal

• While dealing with substance abuse problems in 2003 and 2004, his weight reached a high of 147 pounds, 30 over his riding weight. “It’s been a long road back,” he said of his comeback. “I’m just grateful to be riding, period, much less winning.” Just days after his comeback, won the $118,800 Barretts Debutante, the richest race of the 2004 Fairplex meet.
• Took break from Southern California circuit during 2002 Oak Tree and Hollywood Park meets to ride successfully at Sunland Park in New Mexico.
• Took time away from the racetrack in 1995 for personal reasons. Returned in early 1996.
• Began riding career in Sept. 1988 at Santa Fe Downs.
• Rode the fair circuit, then moved on to Nebraska’s Fonner Park and Ak-sar-ben.
• Rode against his father, Louie, at least four times.