Del Mar jockeys: Fresu leads colony with fast start

Photo: Benoit Photo

The 2025 Del Mar meet is only one week old, but Antonio Fresu has emerged as the early leader. The Italy native has compiled seven victories from 28 mounts, winning 25% overall and posting an HRN impact score of 56.6%, significantly outpacing the odds on his mounts.

Hector Berrios follows with five wins and Juan Hernandez with four. Abel Lezcano has made the most of limited opportunities, winning three races from just eight mounts for a 37.5% win rate. His HRN impact of 204.2% shows what a great bet he has been so far.

Jockey Starts Wins Win % HRN Impact %
Antonio Fresu 28 7 25.0% 56.6%
Hector Berrios 20 5 25.0% 18.6%
Juan Hernandez 24 4 16.7% -18.1%
Abel Lezcano 8 3 37.5% 204.2%
Kazushi Kimura 27 2 7.4% -22.8%
Ricardo Gonzalez 6 2 33.3% 522.7%
Umberto Rispoli 13 2 15.4% -33.5%
Armando Ayuso 25 1 4.0% -48.4%
Vincent Cheminaud 14 1 7.1% -11.8%
Mirco Demuro 10 1 10.0% 81.8%

Abel Lezcano nearly perfect on the main track

Abel Lezcano won three races from just four starts on the main track. He has won two races for Doug O'Neill, with Pokerknightatvees at 7-2 in an allowance dirt sprint and debut maiden winner Thirsty Rebel at 2-1 sprinting five furlongs on the dirt. His other win was maiden-breaker Vasa, who won at 5-1 for trainer Mark Glatt at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main. His lone loss on the dirt was an 8-1 maiden for Doug O'Neill. 

Jockey Dirt starts Dirt wins Win % HRN Impact %
Abel Lezcano 4 3 75.0% 339.8%
Hector Isaac Berrios 9 3 33.3% 44.0%
Antonio Fresu 14 2 14.3% -4.4%
Juan J. Hernandez 11 2 18.2% -34.6%
Alfredo L. Bautista 1 1 100.0% 2525.0%
Diego A. Herrera 6 1 16.7% 19.7%
Drayden Van Dyke 1 1 100.0% 1709.2%
Tyler Baze 3 1 33.3% 319.3%
Umberto Rispoli 4 1 25.0% 7.6%
Vincent Cheminaud 1 1 100.0% 1697.3%
Armando Ayuso 12 0 0.0% -100.0%
Kazushi Kimura 12 0 0.0% -100.0%
Kyle Frey 10 0 0.0% -100.0%
Ruben Silvera 7 0 0.0% -100.0%
Geovanni Franco 4 0 0.0% -100.0%
Tiago Josue Pereira 5 0 0.0% -100.0%
William Antongeorgi III 5 0 0.0% -100.0%
Abel Cedillo 2 0 0.0% -100.0%
Mike E. Smith 2 0 0.0% -100.0%
Assael Espinoza 3 0 0.0% -100.0%

Antonio Fresu shines on turf with five victories

Antonio Fresu collected five wins from 14 starts on the grass for a strong start at 35.7% and 110.2% HRN impact percentage. Behind him Hector Berrios, Juan Hernandez, Kazushi Kimura and Ricardo Gonzalez all have two victories. 

Ricardo Gonzalez is notable with two winners from just four starts, with surprising 37-1 long shot Golden Ale taking a five-furlong turf sprint allowance for trainer Blaine Wright and Velocity a 7-2 winner in a turf allowance at 1 1/16 miles for trainer Michael McCarthy.

Jockey Turf starts Turf wins Win % HRN Impact %
Antonio Fresu 14 5 35.7% 110.2%
Hector Berrios 11 2 18.2% -6.3%
Juan Hernandez 13 2 15.4% 9.5%
Kazushi Kimura 15 2 13.3% 36.5%
Ricardo Gonzalez 4 2 50.0% 747.6%
Armando Ayuso 13 1 7.7% 0.4%
Mirco Demuro 9 1 11.1% 90.0%
Umberto Rispoli 9 1 11.1% -51.9%
Abel Cedillo 3 0 0.0% -100.0%
Abel Lezcano 4 0 0.0% -100.0%
Armando Ayuso 13 1 7.7% 0.4%
Assael Espinoza 2 0 0.0% -100.0%
David Cohen 3 0 0.0% -100.0%
Diego Herrera 3 0 0.0% -100.0%
Drayden Van Dyke 4 0 0.0% -100.0%
Edwin Maldonado 5 0 0.0% -100.0%
Jose Alcala 1 0 0.0% -100.0%
Jose Valdivia, Jr. 3 0 0.0% -100.0%
Kyle Frey 5 0 0.0% -100.0%
Mike E. Smith 7 0 0.0% -100.0%

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