Roman, Santana Voted Jockeys of the Week April 21-27

Two stakes wins for Midwest rider Kevin Roman and career win 2,000 in North America for Ricardo Santana, Jr. riding at Oaklawn Park led to a tie in the voting by the panel of racing experts for Jockey of the Week April 21 through April 27. The weekly honor recognizes jockeys for significant riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States. Fonner Park's perennial leading rider, Roman had a remarkable day on Friday with a total of six wins which set the yearly high of any jockey according to Equibase statistics. Roman wasted no time visiting the winner's circle taking race one for trainer Kelli Martinez. Roman then won race three for trainer Isai Gonzalez, race four for Kelli Martinez and race five for Isai Gonzalez. Roman made two more trips to the winner's circle in race seven and race eight both for Isai Gonzalez. Roman continued his winning spree on Saturday with two stakes wins. Trainer Kelli Martinez gave a leg up to Roman aboard Nebraska Gold in the six-furlong Fonner Park Special for Nebraska-bred three year olds. Nebraska Gold led every step of the way to post a mild upset over seven rivals in 1:14.80. Roman added another win in the Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes aboard Komorebino Omoide (JPN) for trainer Robertino Diodoro. Off as the favorite in the field of nine, Komorebino Omoide tracked the pace taking control at the top of the stretch to post an 11-3/4 length win in 1:44.60 for a mile and one-sixteenth. Earlier in the week, Roman, 29, rode at Will Rogers posting two wins on Monday for a total of 10 for the week. A native of Puerto Rico, Roman rides primarily between Fonner Park, Prairie Meadows and Remington Park. Eight-time Oaklawn riding champion, Ricardo Santana, Jr. reached his 2,000th career win on Sunday. Riding for trainer Melton 'Pee Wee' Wilson, Santana guided Lassie My Girl to a two-length win in the Natural State Breeders' Stakes for Arkansas-bred fillies and mares in 1:38.72 for one mile. Posting the milestone win at Oaklawn was most appropriate as Santana is the fourth-winningest rider in Oaklawn history with a total of 795 victories. "I am really blessed to win (my) 2,000th (North American race) at Oaklawn," said 32-year-old Panama native Santana to Oaklawn publicity. "That's the track that opened the door for me. I finished the 2,000 winning it for 'Pee Wee'. Since Day 1 he's always been helping me. And winning his first stakes and winning my 2,000th, I'm really blessed." Other contenders for Jockey of the Week included Antonio Fresu who won the Gr. III Royal Heroine at Santa Anita, Samuel Marin who won his first Tampa Bay leading rider title and Umberto Rispoli who won the Gr. III Senorita at Santa Anita.