Joy, Clinton, Jamie, Jorge & Russell
June 22nd, 2007By Jude T. Feld
Great to see Joy Scott win the Hollywood Park nightcap on Thundering Rhythm. A huge overlay compared to his chances of winning, the California-bred son of Rhythm returned $44.20. Scott, for those of you who don’t know, is a single mother, who rides at virtually every California racetrack – from Santa Anita (where she broke Robyn Smith’s records for wins by a female) to Ferndale (on the fair circuit). She has talent, yet gets few live mounts on Thoroughbreds.
A few nights ago she romped home to an Arabian win at Los Alamitos and has ridden Quarter Horses and Appys to many major victories. A favorite amongst longshot players, I have a friend who automatically tosses her in the tris and supers whenever she rides.
“One thing about Joy,” he says. “She will always give you everything she’s got. While some of the big boys are wrapping up at the end of a race because they are not going to win, Joy will be in there trying to get a piece of the purse for the owner and usually at a big number.”
Joy Scott is a class act and I have nothing but the utmost respect for her as a rider and as a person.
Speaking of respect, jockey Clinton Potts earned some of mine when he was interviewed by TVG’s Christina Olivares after looping the field on Michael House’s three-year-old filly Miss Josiey Wales Thursday afternoon at Hollywood Park.
“It’s not her usual style to be that far back,” Potts said. “But she’s a woman and I just let her do what she wanted.”
That might be the most intelligent thing I’ve ever heard a jockey say post race.
I wonder if he uses the same tactics with HRTV’s Joanne Jones?
Nine different jockeys won at Churchill Downs Thursday – a racing rarity. Jamie Theriot, one of the post underrated riders in the Louisville colony, booted home Naughty Feller at $63.60. Theriot always seems to have his mounts in a position to win at some point during the race. I upgrade the chances of any horse he rides.
Brazilian riding champion Jorge Ricardo once again earned distinction as the world’s leading jockey as he put a nose in front of Russell Baze this week, continuing the battle between the two for the world record of races won by a jockey.
Ricardo rode six winners on Palermo Race Course’s June 19 card in Buenos Aires, then following won the 13th race at La Plata the next day, bringing his total career wins to 9,747 over Baze’s 9,745.
Baze is currently vacationing in Europe, so Ricardo has a chance to open up a big lead on his rival.
Vacation? People in racing don’t take vacations! Guess Russell didn’t get the memo.
