For the Solis Family, Racing is in the Genes
Although they’re in different vocations, when it comes to Hall of Fame jockey Alex Solis, and his son, Alex II, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
The elder Solis, 50, is in his fourth decade of riding and approaching 5,000 career victories. The junior Solis, who recently turned 30, is a successful bloodstock agent who also owns a share of unbeaten 2013 male 2-year-old champion Shared Belief, the 3-5 morning line favorite in Saturday’s Grade I, $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles.
It
is one of five Breeders’ Cup Challenge races on a blockbuster second
day of racing at Santa Anita, which hosts the Breeders’ Cup World
Championships for an unprecedented third straight year on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
Solis II put together Shared Belief’s ownership group, which consists
of himself, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Kevin and Kim Nish (KMN Racing),
Jason Litt, George Todaro and radio sports talk show host Jim Rome and
his wife, Janet (Jungle Racing).
“There was more to put the partnership together than you think, because
at the time, Shared Belief had only broken his maiden at Golden Gate as
a gelding,” Solis said. “But it’s always easier to sell a horse when
your trainer is going to put his own money up.
“Jerry was the key to the whole thing, although Jim has the biggest
share at 40 percent. We’re really happy with the horse since he shipped
here from Golden Gate on Wednesday. We hope to get lucky tomorrow and go from there.”
Solis II has been in the bloodstock game for 10 years, and credits his
father, trainers Bruce Headley, Richard Mandella and the late Bobby
Frankel for his solid education in racing.
“Frankel taught me a lot about the Europeans,” Solis said. “It’s just
experience. You learn something every day. The longer we do it, the more
we’ll know.”
The field for the Awesome Again, race eight of 11 with a first post time of 12:30:
Fed Biz, Martin Garcia, 6-1; Sky Kingdom, 15-1, Victor Espinoza; Bird E
House, Joe Talamo, 20-1; Shared Belief, Mike Smith, 3-5; Footbridge,
Rafael Bejarano, 15-1; Majestic Harbor, Tyler Baze, 5-1; Mystery Train,
Brice Blanc, 15-1; and Imperative, Kent Desormeaux, 6-1.
BAILEY BANKS ON SHARED BELIEF TO WIN AWESOME AGAIN
Retired Hall of Fame riding great and current television analyst Jerry Bailey didn’t think twice when asked his thoughts on Saturday’s Awesome Again Stakes, one of several NBCSN will televise live starting at 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time.
“I think Shared Belief would have to fall down twice (to lose),” Bailey said. “Honestly, I think that’s how far he’s progressed this year. Given that he’s a 3-year-old, he still towers over the other horses. I just think he’s that good.”
In addition to the Awesome Again, NBCSN will also televise live the FrontRunner and the Rodeo Drive in a 2 ½-hour show that includes live coverage of The Jockey Club Gold Cup from Belmont Park.
Source: Santa Anita Park