Report: Van Dyke to ride this spring at Keeneland, Churchill Downs

Native Kentuckian Drayden Van Dyke will return this spring to his home state.

Van Dyke, a 26-year-old Louisville native, will join colonies at Keeneland and Churchill Downs, Daily Racing Form reported Wednesday. The 2014 Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey will remain at Santa Anita until Keeneland’s 2021 spring meet begins April 2.

"We’ve got to do a restart and a reboot,” Van Dyke’s agent, retired Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, told DRF.

Churchill Downs’ spring meet ends June 26. Stevens said Van Dyke could return to Southern California for the Del Mar meet, scheduled to begin July 17.

Van Dyke ranks 13th in the Santa Anita rider standings with six winners out of 72 mounts since the Arcadia, Calif., track’s winter/spring meet began Dec. 26. Van Dyke won two Del Mar riding titles in 2018.

For his career, Van Dyke shows 722 career victories out of 4,553 starts with nearly $45.6 million in earnings.

Van Dyke’s notable victories include the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint with Stormy Liberal, 2017 Malibu Stakes (G1) and 2018 Triple Bend Stakes (G1) aboard City of Light and 2020 Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G1) and Awesome Again Stakes (G1) with Improbable.