Kentucky Derby: Castañón gets a 2nd chance on West Saratoga

Louisville, Ky.

Jesús Castañón’s career illustrates how difficult it is for very good but not great jockeys to land Kentucky Derby mounts.

Castañón thought he was on the rise when he rode Shackleford to a solid fourth-place Derby finish in 2011 before triumphing with him in the Preakness. He thought wrong.

A broken hand two months after the Preakness sidelined him for three months and wiped out much of his business just as it was starting to build momentum. Although the 51-year-old has won more than 2,700 races while amassing more than $62 million in earnings, he has been a frustrated Derby spectator until this year.

Little-known trainer Larry Demeritte will give him a leg up on Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks runner-up West Saratoga, an $11,000 yearling purchase for owner Harry Veruchi who will break from post 13 in a field of 20. West Saratoga, listed at 30-1 on the morning line, is viewed as a sentimental favorite. Nothing more. He is expected to go off as one of the longest shots on the board.

Castañón is convinced they will far exceed expectations. “He’s improving every race,” he said. “I know we don’t get much credit, but he’s right there.”

He has been aboard the grey son of Exaggerator for the last two of his 10 career starts. The colt ran evenly for him in taking third in the Feb. 10 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. He handled Turfway Park’s Tapeta surface well in placing second in the March 23 Jeff Ruby, four lengths behind Endlessly. He has settled for second in half of his races.

Yet nothing can dim Castañón’s enthusiasm. “The horse is in the Derby for a reason. He’s a good horse,” he insisted. “My faith is high in him. I told Larry, ‘This horse can go somewhere.’ ”

One positive is that West Saratoga put himself on a most unexpected path to the Derby by strutting his tactical speed to win the Sept. 16 Iroquois (G3) by 1 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs. Before that, he had made the second and third starts of his career at Churchill, finishing second twice in maiden special weight races.

West Saratoga’s willingness to rate and his affinity for the home of the Derby provide Castañón with confidence, no matter the odds. “I’ve got so much faith in the horse and what everyone has done,” he said, saluting Demeritte’s team. “I believe we can pull it off.”

Castañón made West Saratoga a priority as soon as he started to ride him. Whenever Demeritte needed him to work the sophomore, he made sure he was there no matter the travel involved. He was determined that this talented young horse would not get away from him the way so many other good prospects had.

“You start riding babies at 2 and you get your hopes up and then they go in a different direction,” he said. “It’s part of the game.”

As often as that has happened, Castañón is undeterred. He constantly presses forward, searching for new babies that eventually can get him to the first Saturday in May.

“He’s a professional in the true sense of the word,” said his agent, Steve Worsly. “He understands the decisions trainers have to make and owners have to make to keep everyone happy. That helps him deal with the disappointment and the ups and downs and the joys this business can give anyone.”

Castañón described his only other Derby as “the best feeling ever.” It was diminished only by the death of his father, Jesus, five months before from kidney disease. His father had been a trainer in Mexico City and exerted a profound influence in encouraging his son of the same name to become a jockey.

“He was my idol,” Castañón said, convinced he will not ride alone in Derby 150.