Race for Leading Rider at Saratoga

Aug 27th, 10
Wednesday. Twenty-eight cards in the books. Twelve to play. Three jockeys still in the hunt for the most coveted riding title in the world.

John Velazquez leads by one win over Javier Castellano who’s six up on the pesky Ramon Dominguez who’s hanging around enough to be counted in and not out. After those three, it’s a tax bracket to Julien Leparoux and Alan Garcia.

Three professionals show up for work; on time every day, punch in, punch out. While some jockeys fall off the tracks, these three hold steady, hands at 10 and 2, straight down the middle lane. They are in the zone.

John Velazquez: 38.

Javier Castellano: 37.

Ramon Dominguez: 31.

Not for long.

Dominguez wins the early double; holding and cajoling Remark to win the 9-furlong maiden in a photo and then keeps the second simple by staying out of trouble aboard Cheeky Mama. Last year’s champion ain’t dead yet.

Dominguez, 33, has gradually carved his initials on New York. He and his agent Steve Rushing tested the waters here for several summers, then tested the frozen air at Aqueduct before committing for good. They’ve won 10 titles in a row and would hate to break the streak here in the public’s eye. Long hold, uncanny balance, Dominguez gets horses to relax when others can’t. His ride on Avenging, a maiden claimer on the turf for Tom Voss, was patent Dominguez. He stayed off the horse’s mouth, allowed him to settle and won while drifting out. The horse enjoyed it. Dominguez rides all morning; Rick Dutrow, Barclay Tagg, Todd Pletcher – whoever needs him, whenever they need him. Sincere and thoughtful, Dominguez drives a Honda to the barn, likes to cook sushi and uses a day in his workshop, making things, as a release.

Castellano counters Dominguez’s double by taking the Ann Clare with favorite Yawkey Way who bests Dominguez on maiden Watkins Glen. Castellano pumps his whip underhanded and understated after the wire. It’s not his most polished win, but it’s a win. That’s 38, but who’s counting? Hello John Velazquez, nice to see you again.

Velazquez runs out of stamina in the first, winding up third aboard Super Espresso. He finishes next-to-last in the second. He fades to fourth aboard the favorite in the fourth. He’s got more ammo to fire.

The VCD Line allows Cornelio Velasquez to win the fourth. Linda Rice scratches Doest from the fifth, demoting Dominguez to the jocks’ room along with Velazquez, keeping an eye on Castellano who rides Tiger Willie.

Castellano tries to go for a hole between a tiring Tidal Slam and a rallying Gamblin Fever, can’t make that seam, goes back to the rail and skims through to win. That’s 39, Castellano is in front, one win above Velazquez. Suddenly Dominguez’s double to open the card is old news.

Castellano, 32, has steadily worked onto the speed dial of New York trainers. It seems like he’s been here forever; polite, unassuming, steady and finally getting the rides to put him in the thick of a title run. Castellano and agent Matt Muzikar have formed a solid relationship; they call each other by a mutual nickname, “Partner.” They’ve partnered to become the go-to rider for prolific Saratoga stables George Weaver, Chad Brown, Jimmy Jerkens and stock the shelves with rides from Todd Pletcher and others. Castellano waited his turn while the guard changed from Bailey to Prado to Velazquez and now he’s finally one of the guards. He used to just miss up here, whether it was stock or experience, he always held his own in the top 10. Now he’s top 3.

Dominguez, Velazquez and Castellano ride the sixth, all aboard first-time starters. Dominguez finishes last and can’t see what’s happening way off in the distance. Castellano stokes Silent Joy to nail Orangeblackandgold in the final stride. And that makes 40.

“So far, it’s gone the right way,” Castellano said. “Those guys are tough, they never give up. The more I win, the more they win. Johnny’s a good rider. Ramon’s a good rider. We are all very competitive, let’s all go out and have fun and try to win some races. Hopefully it will come to the end of the meet. For me, it’s big. For them, it’s nothing, they’ve won so many leading jockey titles, I say, ‘Come on guys, let me just have this meet.’ ”

Not a chance.

Velazquez didn’t win four titles by accident, he offers the ride of the meet, slicing and dicing to get Pleasant Strike home in the seventh. He beats Skipadate, with none other than Castellano. The two-win swing is crucial.

Velazquez, 38, has been here before; battling for a Saratoga title. Velazquez broke Bailey’s grip, winning his first title in 1998, the only jockey other than Bailey to win the Saratoga title from 1994 to 2001. Velazquez took two more in 2003-04 while sparring with Prado. He’s back in his comfort zone, winning races with alacrity and precision. Velazquez started in New York in 1990, he’s made anybody who knows him proud since. Vocal and opinionated, Velazquez stands up and fights for what he believes. Pletcher’s first call for so many years, he rides the fortune of that stable, his horses have earned about $600,000 more than Castellano and $1 million more than Dominguez at this meet. Velazquez’s agent, Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero, doesn’t spend time in a golfcart like most agents, he’s on the back of prospective mounts all day every day. He breezed one for David Donk Wednesday morning, test driving.

“The toughest part is staying on the top, there is no doubt in anybody’s mind, staying focused, doing the right thing all the time, trying to make the right decisions all the time. Everything has to fall into the place,” Velazquez said. “Javier’s riding very well, he’s grown a lot over the years, he’s getting the momentum, he’s been doing well for a long time but he hasn’t gotten the breaks to be leading rider, it looks like me, it took me nine years for the first time.”

Velazquez nearly re-rallies to win the Albany with Ibboyee but can’t run down Prado aboard Stormy’s Majesty. Castellano and Dominguez follow right behind, two, three, four.

Without a ride in the last, Dominguez is the first one to leave; he wins two and loses ground to Castellano. Tough game.

Castellano and Velazquez fail to threaten with their rides in the finale.

At the end of the day, Castellano knows the score.

How many did you win today?

“Three.”

How many did Ramon win?

“Two.”

How many did Johnny win?

“One.”

Who’s in front?