Elliott Awaits First KY Derby Mount With Right to Party

As the son of multiple grade 1-winning jockey Stewart Elliott, Christopher Elliott grew up around horse racing's brightest lights. Now, he is set for one of the sport's biggest stages as he's slated to ride the Kenny McPeek-trained Right to Party in the Kentucky Derby (G1) May 2 at Churchill Downs. Elliott was born April 19, 2006, almost two years after his father nearly captured the Triple Crown aboard Smarty Jones, winner of the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (G1) ahead of a shocking second to upset winner Birdstone in the Belmont Stakes (G1). Despite that loss, the 8-for-9 Smarty Jones remains one of racing's most beloved horses, with his Hall of Fame bio beginning, "was the horse everyone fell in love with." "I've watched that Kentucky Derby 1,000 times or more, as well as the Preakness and Belmont. I've watched those races since I could watch TV," the younger Elliott said. "Now, I still can't believe I'll be in it. It feels amazing. I'm very fortunate and really appreciate Kenny McPeek, the owner, and the whole team, for keeping me on the horse. So young into my career, I have the opportunity to go to the Derby." Elliott punched his Derby ticket aboard Chester Broman Sr.'s Right to Party in the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) April 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack. There, he rallied the son of Constitution from 11th-of-12 through the half-mile to nose out Ocelli for second, 1 1/4 lengths behind the victorious Albus. Right to Party secured 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the 1 1/8-mile runner-up effort, adding to 15 that he picked up for a third with Elliott aboard in the one-turn mile Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct, enough to make the gate for the Run for the Roses. "I was really happy with the Wood performance. That late run is what he's shown ever since he ran first time out," Elliott said. "That second was by a nose; if we were to run third, we wouldn't have made it, so it was huge to run second. He's continuing to improve, and I like the distance. The more distance, the better." Elliott, who grew up riding the pony on his family's farm in New Jersey, said it wasn't replays of his father's Kentucky Derby-winning ride that sparked his interest in officially becoming a jockey, but instead a day at Del Mar watching in person. "I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. When I was maybe around 14 years old, my dad won two stakes on a card at Del Mar, and that was what kind of lit the spark for me," Elliott said. "I want to thank my Dad, my uncle Richard Bracho, who is also a rider, and everyone who supported me. Sarah Davidson was the first trainer to give me a job. There are a lot of people I'd like to thank." On April 21, 2024, two days after his 18th birthday, Elliott made his first career start aboard Ru Mor Starter and crossed the wire 3 3/4 lengths in front in a maiden claimer at Lone Star Park. Agent Jose Santos Jr. was tuned in and immediately reached out to team up. "I watched his first race because everyone in Texas loved Chris because of how good of a kid he is," said Santos Jr. "I knew him and his family well; the Texas racing community is a tight-knit group, so I locked in on his first race, and I thought he did a beautiful job. I messaged him on Instagram right when he crossed the wire. He called me 20 minutes later, hired me, and we've been together ever since." Santos Jr. is the son of Hall of Fame jockey Jose Santos, who piloted New York-bred Funny Cide to wins in the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness before a Triple Crown denial by Empire Maker in the Belmont—one year before Smarty Jones followed a similar trajectory. "This is a very cool connection and I was actually around for those races," said the 31-year-old Santos, Jr. "Chris wasn't born yet, but my Dad was competing in those races against his. I remember my seat for Smarty Jones, as well as Funny Cide, obviously. We grew up having that as the standard, so we are both very adamant that this is where we want to be in life one day." READ: Funny Cide, Smarty Jones Legacy Lives On in Jocks' Sons Added Elliott, "I've talked to his Dad many times, and it's cool because his Dad was 2003 and mine was 2004, back-to-back. We (each) have an apartment about five minutes from Belmont Park. We talk every day and are really good friends, in real life, not just business-wise. He does a really good job." Though he did make one start in August of 2024 at Saratoga Race Course, Elliott began riding full-time on The New York Racing Association the following month during the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. He posted a 14-10-21 record from 154 starts that year on the circuit, and last year surged to a NYRA ledger of 73-82-105 from 755 starts with $5.4 million in earnings—good enough to be an Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding apprentice. "I just wanted to ride as many good horses as I could and get the opportunities to win big races. That's it," Elliott said. "I'm just taking it day by day, trying to learn from every race. You can always learn something every day." Elliott, who became a journeyman in July, notched NYRA stakes wins last year in the $500,000 New York Stallion Series Stakes Great White Way aboard Sunday Boy, as well as the $150,000 Tempted Stakes (Shilling), the $150,000 Joseph A. Gimma (Sweet Montreal), the $150,000 NYSSS Spectacular Bid (Friend Ofthe Devil) and the $150,000 Rick Violette (Leon Blue). "On and off the track, Chris is just a really nice dude," Santos said. "He's proven his professionalism in New York. Everyone knows how hard it is for apprentices in New York when they lose their bug; most often, they move to other circuits, but I believe his hard work will keep him in New York for the long term. "The Derby mount didn't happen overnight; he had to put in a lot of work to get there," Santos continued. "He had to gain Kenny's trust and show up in the big moments. We're super excited for this. It is an awesome opportunity." Right to Party holds a 1-1-2 record from four starts, making all four starts at Aqueduct and featuring a second-out graduation going a one-turn mile in January with Reylu Gutierrez up. Elliott was aboard for the chestnut's other three outings, including a third on debut behind next-out Gotham-winner Iron Honor and next-out winner Crossingthechannel. "He was still a little green in the Wood, figuring things out, but he's learning quickly," Elliott said. "I like the horse, he's got a lot of talent." The same can be said of the 20-year-old rider, who will look to write a story of his own under the Twin Spires.