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Trainer Headley is 75. “Since 1952, I have wanted to win the Malibu. This has been the fulfilment of a long dream,” he exulted.
Trainer Humberto Ascanio had reason to celebrate when Proudinsky, his trainee, lay handy and ran down the pacesetters in the stretch to win the Grade II San Gabriel readily. Rafael Bejarano rode the German-bred Proudinsky who made it back to back victories in the graded event. The 9-5 second choice, Proudinsky covered the 1800-metre turf race in 1 48.39.
Lava Man, returning from a long layoff, set the pace and threw in the towel once looked in the eye. Showing the ill effects of a long period on the shelf, the venerable gelding began a hasty retreat. Loup Breton made a late big but was always held by the determined Proudinsky.
Bobby Frankel’s understudy until recently, Humberto Ascanio was moved. “I’m not Bobby Frankel but I know how to do his thing. I knew Loup Breton will be coming at us late but I was confident that Rafael (Bejarano) had a lot of horse.”
Let us move our focus to New Year’s Day at Calder Racecourse in Miami. The main event was the $100,000 Tropical Park Derby, the only graded race in the US on New Year’s Day. The race went to 23-1 Fly By Phil. Lost Aptitude, the odds on choice, tried to make it all. With 100 metres to go, Lost Aptitude looked like making every post a winning one but Fly By Phil did not stop persevering. With the help of the hard-riding Eduardo Nunez, Fly By Phil got the nod in a head bob. Fly By Phil, a member of the Kathleen O’Connell team and a three year-old gelded son of Act of Duty, returned $49.80.
Jockey Eduardo Nunez had this to say. “Even though I had not ridden him, I have breezed him in the morning. I know what he’s like to ride. The favourite (Lost Aptitude) was not stopping so it was a matter of my horse finishing strong for me and he did.”
Let us take a look at what jockey Ramon Dominguez accomplished in 2009. At 32 and in his first year full time in the New York circuit, Dominguez won riding titles at all three NY tracks, Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga. He ended the year with 376 wins. That was 152 more than Rajiv Maragh who was second best. Dominguez won more than 30 stakes winners. He had five winners twice. He had a quadruple nine times. He had a three-bagger 29 times. Jockey Dominguez has now made New York his home. He lives with his wife and two children near Belmont Park.
“It is hard to pinpoint one highlight. Being able to stay ahead in New York through my first year made me proud and happy. It could not have worked out better.”
Who won’t know Cash Asmussen? He is Steve Asmussen’s brother. Cash was leading apprentice in America in 1979. He went to France and made a name for himself. He was champion jockey in France five times. A Kentucky bank has sued Cash Asmussen for non-payment on a 2.99 million-dollar loan. Cash owns Mark Point Stables and some of the horses have been used as collateral.
Garrett Gomez was making news of a different kind on the West Coast. Gomez won the last race of the year at Santa Anita and that gave him the fourth consecutive national purse earnings title. Cenizo, a mount Gomez picked up when Martin Pedroza took off, came through at 4-5. Gomez got $10,800 and that took his numbers to $18,571,171 for 2009, $10,606 more than Julien Leparoux. The latter, in France to be with his family for Christmas, missed the the waning days of 2009.
Laffitt Pincay, Jr and Braulio Baeza are the other two jockeys to have won four consecutive earnings titles. Pincay did it 1971 thru 74. Baeza won it 1965 thru 68. The incomparable Bill Shoemaker won seven in succession from 1958 thru 64.
Speaking about the year, Gomez said, “To have to go down to actually my last mount of the year is unreal. I was very lucky to pick up the winner. I was hanging around the jockeys’ room hoping to pick up something and Martin did not feel well. Winning the Woodbine Mile with Ventura and with Champs Elysees at Woodine (both Bobby Frankel-trained horses) are the special races for me.”
Back to Santa Anita and it is January 2, 2010. It was trainer Neil Drysdale’s moment in the sun, Cat By The Tale won the Grade II (turf) San Gorgonio Handicap over 1,800 metres in 1 48.17 seconds. Ridden by Joel Rosario, Cat By The Tale, a 28-10 chance, raced in striking range and struck the front turning for home and won going away by two and one half lengths. Cat of the Tale is by Tale of the Cat.
Life Is Sweet was a scratch after tying up during morning exercise. Treat Gently’s saddle slipped and Diamondrella raced very poorly.
Jockey Rosario showered praise on his mount. “I did not want anybody to get an early lead. I wanted to make sure I put some pressure on. I wanted to make the lead at the quarter pole and she did the rest. She was very impressive.”
The scene is Santa Anita and the day is Sunday, January 3. Tuscan Evening made a promising start to her 2010 season. The Jerry Hollendorfer pupil, in the hands of Rafael Bejarano, won the 1300-metre Monrovia (turf) by a length in 1 12.56. Tuscan Evening was the 3-2 public choice. In her last appearance, Tuscan Evening played second fiddle to Ventura in the Matriarch.
Jockey Bejarano spoke highly. “She is the best I have got right now on the turf. She loves it. I was very confident. When you ride the best horse, you can do anything you want.”
Now a paragraph about Quality Road. The four year-old Elusive Quality colt did not enter the gate in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. On January 3, at Gulfstream Park in the $100,000 (G III) Hal’s Hope Stakes, Quality Road behaved like a gentleman. He won the 1600-metre contest start to finish. The margin was two and three quarter lengths and the time was 1 36.33 seconds.
Jockey John Velasquez was pleased. “He (Quality Road) was acting perfect. There were never any concerns. Once we got out, he just did everything nice and easy.”
Winning trainer Todd Pletcher expressed his satisfaction. “It was a good race. He has been perfect in the morning. We were confident that he would be all right. He likes Gulfstream and he showed it. We will now point him to the Donn Handicap on February 6.”
