Celebrating the Jockeys of Kentucky Derby 142
Months of hype, a full week of partying and then it is all over in two speedy minutes! This year’s Kentucky Derby did not disappoint. We have two weeks to dissect the race and prepare for the Preakness, but let’s take a few minute to celebrate the jockeys of Kentucky Derby 142.
These guys are good! Their ability to navigate in and around 19 other runners just blows my mind. I’ll watch replays of past races and find myself in awe of their talents. They must make decisions in the blink of an eye all while remaining calm and tactical. I can barely drive my car on the Capital Beltway, so my hat is off to them!
This year’s Derby was a turning of the page. We were not treated to the rail running feats of Calvin Borel; however, we were introduced to a cast of new characters. This was the first Derby for jockeys Florent Geroux, Brian J. Hernandez Jr., Emisael Jaramillo and Yutaka Take. Don’t forget about Luis S. Quinonez, who made his Kentucky Derby debut at age 49 and finished a strong fifth with Suddenbreakingnews! Geroux had the best weekend of all the freshmen and capped it off with an impressive third aboard Gun Runner. While Hernandez, Jaramillo and Take may have finished further back, they still got to experience a run for the roses. That in itself is an accomplishment and something they will never forget. Heck, I would rather finish last in a Derby than never run in one at all!
In my opinion, not one horse lost this race or ran bad because of their jockey. All twenty riders maintained a level head and gave their horse a chance to run their race. Traffic jams happen! Just look at Quinonez, he missed the Derby Draw because of car traffic in Louisville on Wednesday. Luckily, he did not have the same problem with the horse traffic on Saturday!
Now on to the champion, Mr. Mario Gutierrez! How can you not cheer for this kid? I love how he shows his emotion and remains humble, even in the spotlight! He is 2-for-2 in the Kentucky Derby and finished 2nd in the Kentucky Oaks! He showed patience and confidence in Nyquist from the gate to the wire. When you have a horse as talented as Nyquist that is what you want in a jockey. These two are a dangerous duo and will be tough to beat!
On a side note, I have to give shout out to Hall of Famer Edgar Prado, who claimed victory in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic aboard Divisidero. Edgar has always been one of my favorite jockeys. He won his first graded stakes in 1988 and continues to compete the top level on a regular basis 28 years later.
Finally, my thoughts are with Diego Sanchez and his family after the events of this past Friday. I am hoping for healing and comfort during this difficult time. Jockeys are some of the most talented and courageous people I’ve ever known. While Diego’s battle is just beginning, I’ve seen plenty of jockeys overcome the odds before! I know we are all rooting for him in this race!