GOLDEN GLIMPSES #39

AGENT McCLELLAN MAKES WINNERS OF McCARRON, SOLIS

In a world that can reap both riches and rejection, a jockey's agent must endure emotions of either extreme.

Those who endure best are the most successful, and one is Scott McClellan, who handles business for two of the nation's top riders, Chris McCarron and Alex Solis.

McCarron is a world-class rider, an Eclipse Award winner who's won two Kentucky Derbies and several Breeders' Cup races. His solitary relationship with McClellan has been a marriage made in heaven.

So when Scotty, with McCarron's consent, began booking mounts for Solis late in March of last year, it raised more than a few eyebrows on the Southern California racing circuit.

It raised even more when Solis captured the recent Hollywood Park riding title, but it was really no shock to McClellan.

"He's a very hard-working guy," McClellan said of Solis, who now has a place in history as the rider who upset Cigar. "He probably rides the most horses of anyone out there. Of course, if you're riding the most horses, you've got the greatest chance of being leading rider.

"Alex doesn't get on as many top horses as some of the other guys, but he rides all kinds of horses, and he rides very well. Sometimes he has trouble in races, like everybody else, but he's a very devoted guy. You can count on him.

"When he's named on a horse, he shows up and rides and gives you his best. I thought it was possible (to be leading rider), but I didn't give it much thought at the time I took his book. The only reason he's not a top rider yet is because he doesn't get those opportunities like the Baileys and McCarrons.

"It's not that he couldn't ride those same horses they ride, it's just that he isn't in demand as much in a stakes race. I try to get him on the best stakes horses I can, but a lot of times I don't get that opportunity, unless he's ridden the horse in the past and worked his way up to it.

"But now doors are opening more and more, because people are having good luck when he rides for them in lesser races. If he rides those horses well, they're giving him shots to ride those better horses, like Urbane, Dare and Go, Raintrap and Swiss Yodeler. He does have some nice horses to ride."

Solis is as steady with his emotions as he is on a horse. That's not to say he hides his feelings. When his friend and idol, Laffit Pincay Jr., was involved in what turned out to be a minor spill at Santa Anita one day, Solis was in tears until he learned Laffit was not seriously hurt.

"He has his moments when he gets a little down," McClellan said, "but not too bad. More than anything, he's probably just a little tired from working so many horses in the morning and riding so many in the afternoon. Sometimes, if he has a day he doesn't do very well, he'll get a little down.

"He's got a very good sense of humor and he usually lightens things up with a funny comment."

Unlike some agents, McClellan sets no long-range goals for his riders, other than keeping them on live horses.

"I try to keep them healthy, riding good and winning big races. We try to be leading rider whenever we can, but I don't set goals because if you don't hit them, you get discouraged. I just try to do the best job I can. I think both Alex and Chris are satisfied with my work, but you never know in this game.

"Alex is very complimentary. He calls me and thanks me and tells me I'm doing a good job. And there's nobody like McCarron. I've worked for a lot of jockeys, and, not to put any of them down, but McCarron is above everyone. He's a total class act. I've never had an argument with him in 15 years."

Send e-mail to Ed Golden

The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com/alauck)