In The Sulky Forum
General Category => Thoroughbreds => Topic started by: RocknRoll on April 10, 2013, 01:04:24 PM
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Jockey Joel Rosario has been named to ride Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Orb in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), agent Ron Anderson confirmed April 10.
Rosario rode the 3-year-old son of Malibu Moon in his first five starts, but was unable to take the mount in the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (gr. II) and Florida Derby due to prior calls—including a profitable one guiding Animal Kingdom to victory in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) March 30.
Jockey John Velazquez was in the irons for both of Orb's victories in this year's key Derby preps, but has been sidelined after injuring his rib and chipping the radius bone in his right wrist in an April 7 spill at Aqueduct Racetrack. He plans to resume riding May 1 in time for the Derby.
Velazquez is also the regular rider of Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Verrazano for trainer Todd Pletcher; Rosario rode Vyjack to a third in that race and was also aboard the Rudy Rodriguez trainee to win the Gotham Stakes (gr. II).
Orb was bred in Kentucky out of the Unbridled mare Lady Liberty by Stuart S. Janney III and Phipps Stable, and races for those connections and Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. He has four wins and a third from seven starts with earnings of $921,050, and currently ranks first on the leaderboard for the Kentucky Derby field with 150 points.
"We're elated to be back on this horse; he's an improving horse for some really nice people and nice connections, and we're excited for the opportunity," Anderson said.
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Kentucky Derby: Velazquez commits to Verrazano, Rosario regains mount on Orb
John Velazquez will ride undefeated Wood Memorial winner Verrazano in the Kentucky Derby, his agent Angel Cordero Jr. confirmed on Wednesday.
Orb, the horse Velazquez elected to get off after winning the Florida Derby on him, will be ridden by Joel Rosario, who has elected to get off Vyjack. Rosario rode Orb in his first five races.
Cordero said Velazquez had been committed to Verrazano before he ever rode Orb, which he did for the first time in the Fountain of Youth.
Velazquez is currently sidelined with a fractured rib, but is expected to return to the saddle in the afternoon on May 1 at Belmont Park.
Cordero said Velazquez would ride at Belmont on May 1-2 and Churchill Downs on May 3-4 but would limit himself to just a few mounts per day.
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I figured Velazquez would stick with Pletcher and Verrazano.
I like Rosario on Orb. Rosario is the hottest jockey on the planet right now. Dude is in the zone.
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The first story made me think that they decided to go with Rosario on Orb before knowing what would happen with Valazquez.
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The first story made me think that they decided to go with Rosario on Orb before knowing what would happen with Valazquez.
I kinda felt the same way, but then I saw the second article so I figured I would post both.