Jockey Mario Gutierrez makes last stop at Emerald Downs before he heads to Canada
Jockey, Mario Gutierrez, will be making his final stop at Emerald Downs to compete in the Kent Handicap on 15th July, 2012, before he heads to the Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver for the rest of the summer, but he will return
to California for the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita in November.
The rider, who is originally from Veracruz, Mexico, has experience at Hastings, and came to compete at Santa Anita in late 2011, where he impressed everyone with his skills.
The 25-year-old rider got his recognition when he guided the Doug O’Neill trained, I’ll Have Another, to brilliant victories in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, which were the first two of the Triple Crown.
Unfortunately, the three-year-old could not compete in the Belmont Stakes, as he sustained an injury but he did enough in his short career before he retired.
Now, the jockey will be taking charge of the John Sadler trained, Regal Betty, in this race that covers a distance of 1 1/16-miles for sophomores.
The rider has a particularly good record at Emerald Downs, since he competed here in sixteen starts, claimed one victory, finished four times as a runner-up, and thrice in third place.
Now, the jockey will attempt to land a second victory after he guided, Holy Nova, to victory in the 2009 Boeing Handicap, which ended in a dead-heat with, Elusive Horizon.
The Florida bred, Regal Betty, will also benefit from the experienced and talented rider, and may add another victory to her record in this race.
Previously, the daughter of Congrats, out of mare Singsingasong, triumphed on 4th September, 2011, in the maiden at Del Mar, where she covered the distance of a mile in 1 minute and 39.07 second.
The filly earned her second victory in the Arizona Oaks at Turf Paradise on 25th
February, 2012, where she covered a distance of a mile, and defeated Lasso From El Paso.
The sophomore seems to be in good form, and might be able to take on the slightly larger distance to win this race.
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