GOLDEN GLIMPSES #69 GOLDEN GLIMPSES #69 FOR DERBY, IT'S CALIFORNIA SCREAMIN' IN JOCKEYS' ROOM
The disappointment on the face of Alex Solis was clear, even on a television monitor 3,000 miles away.
On the other coast, in the jockeys' room at Hollywood Park where Solis, Gary Stevens and David Flores make their present home-away-from-home, a colony of riders had just gathered 'round the big TV screen to watch the 123rd Kentucky Derby. It was a race that would be as much a part of California as San Francisco, Los Angeles and earthquakes. Silver Charm and Stevens defeated Captain Bodgit and Solis by a head, with Free House and Flores finishing third, 3 1/2 lengths back.
The tongues in any Southern California jocks' room wag with the disparity of a Tower of Babel. But the competitive strands of disunity come together as one when the cause is just, such as rooting for one of their own in the world's greatest horse race.
"Of course, we were rooting for a California horse and a California jockey," said the world's winningest active rider, 50-year-old Hall of Famer Laffit Pincay Jr. "Before the race, I was hoping Solis would win, but when the horses were coming down the stretch, I lost him, and I started watching Flores and rooting for him, because he was on the lead.
"Then Gary showed up on the outside and I thought he was going to win the race, and I started rooting for Gary. All of a sudden, Alex came up on the outside and by then I didn't know who to root for, so I said, 'What the hell, whoever wins, it's OK with me.'
"I thought Solis was going to win, and it seemed like there was some bumping. I was rooting for Alex because I wanted him to win his first Derby. We were cheering very loud. A lot of guys were rooting for Solis because he never won a Derby before. It's the best race in America and it's a beautiful feeling to win it," said the rider who won it with Swale in 1984.
"In my career as a jockey, I only cried two times after I won a race, and that was one of them."
Corey Black, never at a loss for words, gave his description.
"Down the lane, there was a lot of rooting interest. First, I thought Flores was going to win. Coming into the stretch, his horse was just galloping, breezing. Even though Silver Charm came to him, I thought Flores had a lot more horse left than he did. At the 16th pole, I thought Alex had Gary. But Silver Charm just dug in and I guess the Santa Anita Derby proved to be another good prep again. Obviously, we root for West Coast riders -- that's natural.
"I'm thrilled for Gary. What a week, the Derby and the Hall of Fame in the same week. I don't know if it gets much better than that. But I have to say I was rooting for Alex just because Gary has had two Derby wins. Alex is going to get more chances, but he hasn't been there yet.
"There's great camaraderie among our riders, when we're not competing. Martin (Pedroza) is real close to Alex -- not that he's not close with Gary, but he's closer with Alex. I would have thought it was Martin getting beat, as upset as he was that Alex didn't win it."
GOLDEN PICKS
JUST DIET -- Authoritative win against high-priced claiming mares in turf route indicates she has enough in the tank for repeat victory.
REBLIN -- Ran winning race in defeat versus bottom claimers, but couldn't hold off Semi Maar, who dropped from $25,000 to $10,000.
SEIGNEURIAL -- Ran too good to lose in $70,000 turf sprint. Repeat effort should land English-bred in winners' circle, but don't expect 9-1.
SHAREKANN -- Just failed to hold off favorite in turf route, beaten a neck in a game effort. Similar effort gets the candy.
TRICKY M.D. -- Juvenile showed good speed but got bogged down on rail from No. 1 post, still ran with interest despite fading late.
THE HOMESTRETCH: All was quiet the morning after the Derby at Bob Baffert's Santa Anita headquarters, but the celebration was still going on as Baffert headed to Baltimore for the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness on May 17. "He's still on a roll," said Suzanne Frank, minding the store in Arcadia for her boss. "They're having fun back there." Baffert's top aide, Eoin Harty, was en route with Anet to Sportsman's Park for Saturday's Illinois Derby. The Kentucky Derby thrust Baffert into national prominence. It was as colorful a triumph as Baffert himself, what with a white-haired trainer, a gray colt with the first name of Silver, and a gold cup to show for their efforts . . . According to attorney/trainer Darrell Vienna, it's only a matter of time before Patrick Valenzuela is back in the saddle again. The 34-year-old jockey, who has made countless comebacks from substance abuse and personal problems, was arrested for alleged vandalism on Oct. 31 and again the next day for allegedly being under a controlled substance. Valenzuela, who hasn't ridden since Oct. 24, is eligible for a diversion program that will clear the way for him to regain his jockey's license with the California Horse Racing Board, which denied his recent request due to the charges against him. "As long as the person has no prior convictions, the diversion program allows him to enter a program of counseling, rehabilitation and vocational training," Vienna said. "On successful completion of the program, it means the (substance) charge will be dismissed without ever being taken to fruition. So he never has to go through any proceedings -- just complete the program, get a clean bill of slate, go back into the court, and the court will claim in the interest of justice it will just withdraw the charges. (Vienna said the vandalism charge is likely to be resolved in civil court). The district attorney has already said Valenzuela was a candidate for diversion. The charges will be dismissed. It's like a clean start. (He'll have) no record. It can't be held against him in terms of licensing by any administrative agency. He has an excellent chance of regaining his license. In fact, it's mandated by the penal code that they cannot use the diversion program, or any of the underlying allegations, as a basis to deny him a license." When Valenzuela writes his book, I have the perfect title, and consider it copyrighted: "The Pat with Nine Lives." . . . The best 3-year-old in the country didn't compete in the Kentucky Derby. And it's not a he, it's a she. Her name is Star of Goshen, and even though she's had only three races -- all smashing victories -- she looks like the next Ruffian.
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