Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez is almost always riding where the big races are run and last week was no exception accumulating three Gr. I wins as well as frequent flyer miles. Velazquez began his race week at Saratoga on Friday, then flew across country for a day trip to Del Mar on Pacific Classic Day Saturday posting a win in the Pacific Classic (G1). It was then back to Saratoga for a win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) Sunday and the Hopeful (GI) Monday.
The panel of racing experts unanimously voted Velazquez Jockey of the Week. The 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 U.S.
After Saratoga's Friday card and a win in the last race for trainer Adam Rice, Velazquez headed west to southern California for Del Mar's biggest day of racing.
Riding for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Velazquez was in the irons aboard east coast invader, Fierceness in the 35th running of Del Mar's signature race. Breaking from the rail in the scratched-down field of seven, Fierceness veered inwards towards the temporary rail nearly unseating his rider. Fierceness recovered quickly with the masterful handling of his jockey but found himself trapped in fourth behind a wall of horses.
Approaching the half-mile pole, Velazquez split horses and took the lead around the second turn. Race favorite and Preakness hero Journalism took aim at Fierceness in the stretch but was no match as the 4-year-old had built up a commanding lead and won by 3-1/4 lengths in 2:01.00 for a mile and one-quarter. The Pacific Classic is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Classic to be run at Del Mar November 1.
"He was going to go over the rail," said Velazquez to FanDuel TV. "He's never been in that position before, and seeing the gap there—he went for it."
Velazquez took the red-eye to New York and arrived in time for Sunday's card at Saratoga. Velazquez was able to take a quick nap before winning with three of his six mounts on the day including another eventful ride this time in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) aboard Antiquarian for trainer Todd Pletcher. With the second-choice Mindframe wiped out at gate break, it was stablemate and longshot Antiquarian who held off race favorite Sierra Leone to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 2:02.16 for the mile and one-quarter on a fast track. The race is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Classic.
The Todd-Pletcher/John Velazquez duo posted another Gr. I win within 48 hours in the Hopeful (G1), the closing day feature at Saratoga. Off as the third choice in the betting, 2-year-old Ted Noffey made short work of his six rivals to post an 8-1/2 length win in 1:22.35 for seven furlongs.
"He traveled a lot better than I thought he would," said Velazquez to NYRA publicity. "He's still a baby. It's (turn of foot) incredible."
Other contenders for Jockey of the Week included Frankie Dettori who won two stakes including the Nashville Derby (G3) at Kentucky Downs, James Graham who won a graded race at Kentucky Downs, Irad Ortiz, Jr. with two stakes wins at Saratoga and his seventh leading rider title at the Spa and Umberto Rispoli with three stakes wins including two graded at Del Mar.
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