Espinoza, Nakatani Among Hall of Fame Noms

Two jockeys and two horses who earned their spurs in California have been nominated to the National Museum Racing Hall of Fame—Victor Espinoza and Corey Nakatani, and Kona Gold and Lava Man.

Winners will be announced April 20, with induction ceremonies on Aug. 7 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., site of the Hall of Fame.

Espinoza, a two-time Kentucky Derby winner and regular rider of Horse of the Year California Chrome, was caught off guard by his nomination.

“Not really,” the 42-year-old native of Mexico City said when asked if he thought this would ever happen. “I never thought about being in the Hall of Fame, but just being nominated is an honor for me after all these years.

“We’ll see what happens. For now, I’ll keep going and try to win more races.”

“A lot of good horses and a lot of talent got me to this point, God willing,” said the 44-year-old Nakatani, a native of Covina, California, who began his career in 1988. “I’m very, very fortunate. Just being nominated is an honor, but obviously, you strive for things like this.

“You set goals for yourself and hopefully you can attain them. Hopefully, the voters will look at my record and they’ll put us in there.”

Retired jockey Craig Perret and the late Chris Antley are also on this year’s Hall of Fame ballot.

FINISH LINES: Up and coming journeyman Drayden Van Dyke, Eclipse Award winner as outstanding apprentice rider of 2014, celebrated his first Grade I victory Saturday aboard Ring Weekend in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile in understated fashion. “I visited with Gary Stevens at his 52nd birthday party last night and did my usual thing,” said Van Dyke, mature beyond his 20 years. “I went to Whole Foods, got some fruit and salmon, and went home.” . . . Victor Espinoza on his pending Dubai trip to ride California Chrome in the $10 million World Cup on March 28: “It’s more important on how the horse handles the trip than the rider. It’s exciting to go there, but it’s a different surface now, traditional dirt, rather than synthetic, so I don’t know how the track will play. Hopefully, we’ll get the money.”. . . Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Secret Circle, ticketed for the $2 million Golden Shaheen in Dubai on March 28, worked six furlongs Sunday in a bullet 1:12.60 for Bob Baffert . . . Espinoza, Martin Pedroza and Iggy Puglisi have been suspended three racing days (March 13, 14 and 15) for causing interference on their respective mounts, Hauler, Royal F J and Stole a Kiss, in Friday’s races . . . Agent Mike Ciani had Kent Desormeaux booked to ride in 10 of the 11 races Saturday, a record one-day number for him this meet, but the 45-year-old jockey settled for nine when his mount in the second, Inner City, was scratched. Through 43 racing days, the three-time Kentucky Derby winner was tied for second at Santa Anita with 29 wins from 149 mounts, a respectable 19 percent. Desormeaux showed his Hall of Fame prowess with a 10-1 upset on Arethusa for trainer Eoin Harty in the sixth race, patiently winding his way through the stretch to score by a half-length in the 1 1/8-miles turf event . . . Probable for next Saturday’s Grade I Santa Margarita Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles: Cassatt, Kerwin Clark; Dame Dorothy, Rafael Bejarano; Frivolous, Corey Nakatani; Legacy, no rider; Thegirlinthatsong, Mike Smith; Warren’s Veneda, Tyler Baze; and Yahilwa, no rider . . . Trainer A.C. Avila does not plan to appeal his 60-day suspension and $10,000 fine recently handed out by the California Horse Racing Board. “I haven’t had a vacation since 2008, so I’ll make the most of it,” said Avila, who plans to leave March 24 to spend two weeks in South America, including Brazil and Uruguay, and 25 days in Europe, including France and Italy . . . Saturday marked 59 years since Larry Gilligan’s monumental upset victory aboard Social Climber for Charlie Whittingham in the 1956 Felipe Stakes. Social Climber came from 11th in a field of 12 to win by a neck at a $111.20 win payoff. Gilligan, now Santa Anita’s on-track Quick Official, would go on to finish second on Social Climber at 17-1 in an 18-horse field behind Terrang and Bill Shoemaker in the Santa Anita Derby…Condolences to the family of long-time Southern California assistant starter, Ron Bolton, who passed away at his home in Lodi, California, on Feb. 25 at the age of 57.

Source: Santa Anita Stable Notes