Big Brown draws post 16

OK now I'm a little worried. With Big Brown drawing post #16 he is most likely going to break from the auxiliary gates. This has proven to be a difficult task to overcome in winning the Derby. There is also the fact that he most likely will be the Derby favorite which also does not bode well for him. Trainer Richard Dutrow says that Big Brown knows what he is here to do. He knows he is no longer at Palm Meadows and he has been in the gate so he knows he is here to race. Big Brown is scheduled to work 3/8 tomorrow after the break. "The horse is a dream come true" says Dutrow. Big Brown is lightly raced with only three starts under him due to quarter cracks in his feet. With not much experience behind him the packed field of the Kentucky Derby and the traffic he will encounter will truly test the ability of this young horse.

Big Brown is in Town!

Derby fever is mounting with less than a week to go on the Run For The Roses. As they do each may the derby hopefuls are coming to Churchill Downs with hopes of being the next to win The Kentucky Derby. The one the eyes are upon right now is Big Brown. Big Brown rolls into the Derby as an undefeated horse. His rider Kent Desormeaux has been quoted as saying "this is the best horse I've ever ridden." He has since gone from a Derby hopeful to a Derby favorite. My hopes are hanging on Kent's words as I jumped in and took Big Brown when he was 20-1 in the future pool. My sons birthday falls on the Derby so I am hoping that means something.
Tomorrow Hollywood Park has a pick six carry over of 555,186. The pick six begins in the third race. Rafael Bejarano is off to a good start as he leads the colony with six wins. MC Baze and Richard Migliore are also off to good starts just behind him with 5 wins. In race #10 look for the 10 horse Madeo to win the final race of the day.

Bejarano Wins First SoCal Title!

Congratulations to jockey Rafael Bejarano who scored his first riding title in California at the conclusion of the Santa Anita meeting. Bejarano moved his tack from back East where he had been established as a top rider. Rafael beat out Garret Gomez who has been one of California's top riders and the 2007 leading rider across the nation. He ended the meet with 67 wins, 64 seconds, and 47 thirds of his 319 mounts earning over 4 million dollars in purse money.

It's been a longtime coming for rider Ismael Valenzuela who was finally voted into racing's Hall of Fame. If you recall I started campaigning for him quite a while back (check past blogs). I also said it was a shame that racing legend Jerry Lambert also has been snubbed by the Racing Hall of Fame. There's always next year. I rode Arabians for the Jerry at Los Alamitos and the man has forgotten more than I'll ever know. I learned a lot from him in those mornings at the track and I am honored to have ridden along side of him and that he thought that much of me.

Don't forget to keep your eye out for my California track picks that should be coming any day.

They Stole My Idea!

Well for those of you who haven't heard, Animal Planet is working on a show called Jockeys in which they will be following the lives of jockeys and the horse racing world. I had this idea a long time ago. With all the reality shows out there these days I thought that a reality show about jockeys and the race track would be not only great for the business but an exciting show as well. The race track is so complex and filled with such a unique cast of characters from the jockeys down to the two dollar bettor. It will be very interesting for people to see the complexity of how a jockey has to manage his relationships with trainers, owners, their agent, the groom, the exercise rider, and so on. Decisions on which horses to ride our often complicated with personal relationships. I even wrote to a few networks pitching this idea. I have spoken to friends in the industry about it. Well I guess I won't get any credit for the idea I just wish it would have been picked up by one of the major networks who put on shows about cooks, designers, survivors, and people living in a house together. I see a huge potential for this type of a show. Now back to racing, Pyro is now out of the Derby picture furthering my horses chance of winning. Big Brown has been working well, but with those tender feet I hold my breath with each and every workout. I still can't believe I got him at 20-1. I should be starting my picks anytime now. I am having it set up to where you will be able to purchase my daily picks. Good racing to you, http://www.neverendingsuccess.com/?id=retiredjoc

Changes To My Blog

If you have read my blog in the past then you would know that recently I have been sort of on and off with changing themes and subjects. It has been quite a blow this year from losing health insurance to running out of savings and trying to come up with new ways of earning a living. April 5th marked six years since I was injured. I still have dreams where I am riding in races. In searching of ways to make a new income I have tried numerous work at home business' that have not panned out. Therefore I have decided to go back to what I know best which is Horses, racing, and riding. I am going to start using my site as a way to sell my tips. The plans for this are just now in the works. Hopefully within a week I should have it all set up. Thank you for hanging in there with me through all of this, and hopefully I will be bringing you some fun and exciting information from behind the scenes of the racing world.