Vasquez Shows his Talent Aboard Hy Riverside
Jockey Miguel Vasquez frequently tends to fly somewhat under the radar at Gulfstream Park, but the 22-year-old rider’s horsemanship was on full display in the first two races on Saturday’s 12-race program.
The native of Panama, who rode his first winner in the U.S. (K.B. Biorhythms) at Gulfstream Park West Nov. 15, 2014, visited the winner’s circle with Hy Riverside following the 1-2 favorite’s impressive length victory in the second race co-feature.
The strong-finishing jockey and stretch-running 4-year-old gelding pooled their strengths in the $43,000 optional claiming allowance, closing from far back off a fast early pace to win the seven-furlong sprint going away.
His trip aboard favored Bonita in the first race didn’t go so smoothly. Due to a confluence of circumstances in the stretch run of the 7 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance on turf, his mount clipped heels and stumbled badly. Vasquez somehow kept his feet in the irons while managing to stay aboard and helping his mount right himself without falling.
“Thank God,” said Vasquez while expressing a measure of surprise at being able to avoid being unseated and losing control of his mount.
The graduate of the Laffit Pincay Jr. riding school shook off the first-race incident and enjoyed a dream trip aboard the Antonio Sano-trained Hy Riverside. Settled well off a fast pace set by Niconelle, who scooted the first half-mile in 43.86 seconds, Hy Riverside was swung five-wide off the turn into the homestretch to launch his winning drive. Tenango finished second, 1 ½ lengths ahead of Kokomo Wildcat.
Hy Riverside, who finished second in a photo finish behind Abounding Legacy in the Trinniberg Stakes July 30, ran seven furlongs in a swift 1:22.05.
“This horse is a distance horse. If they go fast early, he’s going to run past them in the stretch,” Vasquez said.
Edgard Zayas Make 3 Visits to Winner's Circle
Jockey Edgard Zayas rode three winners on Saturday's card, including Diaz, who captured the co-featured 10th race, a mile $43,000 optional claiming allowance on turf.
Diaz ($13) responded to Zayas' strong urging to nose out 4-5 favorite Amigo at the finish. The victory was the 4-year-old Irish-bred's third straight and second since being claimed by IAB Stables' and trainer Tammy Levi for $10,000.
Diaz stalked the pace before making a protracted and successful stretch drive to secure the victory, completing the mile over a firm course in 1:35.06.
"He got a perfect trip today. I tried to follow the 'eight' [Amigo] the whole way, because I thought he was the horse to beat. It worked out just like we planned. When I saw the 'eight' stalking the pace, it couldn't have worked out better, because I could use him to take me there," Zayas said. "At the top of stretch, I showed him the whip and he give me a kick. I thought he would get there, but the other horse came back at the end, so it was close."
Zayas also scored aboard Capital City ($4.80) in the fifth and Equilibrium ($15.60) in the 11th.
Rainbow 6 Carryover Jackpot Stands at $30,728 for Sunday
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 will offer a carryover jackpot of $30,728.76 Sunday at Gulfstream Park.
The popular multi-race wager went unsolved Saturday for the fourth straight racing day since producing a $411,000 jackpot. Multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $2,162,08.
The carryover jackpot is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.
Sunday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 6-11.
There will also be a $12,156.66 Super Hi-5 carryover for Sunday's first race.
First-race post time is set for 12:50 p.m.
Source: Gulfstream Park