Chris Landeros takes off Saturday mounts to welcome newborn son

Chris Landeros, who is scheduled to ride Canterbury’s Mystic Lake Derby winner Giant Payday in the Dueling Grounds Derby, was off his mounts Saturday because his wife, Shelby, gave berth to their first child, a son named Beckham Wilkes Landeros born shortly before noon CT.

“This is the best day of my life,” Landeros wrote on his Facebook page. “Beckham Wilkes Landeros is here. Shelby and I want to thank you for all the calls and messages.

Giant Payday is trained by Landeros’ father in law, Ian Wilkes. The jockey also is scheduled to ride the 2-year-old Jacktastic and allowance horses Fun and Zipp On By Sunday for the barn.