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John Velazquez is a man in demand these days. He is the regular rider for Verrazano, the favorite for the Kentucky Derby, and was being sought for mounts in several locales on March 30, when the Dubai World Cup is run in the United Arab Emirates the same day as the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park and the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds, both $1 million preps for the May 4 Derby.
With all that from which to choose, Velazquez will remain in South Florida that day for the Florida Derby in order to ride Orb, the Fountain of Youth winner, his agent, Angel Cordero Jr., said Tuesday.
“We’re going to stay here,” Cordero said from Florida.
Velazquez rode Orb for the first time in the Fountain of Youth. Joel Rosario had ridden him in his first five starts, including to victories against maidens and in a first-level allowance in his two starts prior to the Fountain of Youth.
Orb, trained by Shug McGaughey, had his first work since the Fountain of Youth on Monday, when he went a half-mile in 48.40 seconds at the Payson Park training center in Florida.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
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Shug will do what is best for the horse.( Win or Lose.) bet on it.
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Shug "knows" that JRV will follow instructions and just gallop the horse for a strong prep. (Like Orb needs to win the Florida Derby, lmao) The tri might might be nice, IF 1 of 3 make the tic.
Ramon has suffered a catastrophic head injury and any speculation on him is, err, prematurely reprehensible.
Then, again: Trainers, like breeders, go with the best and hope for the best.
Get da feelin' things will sort themselves out - altho that won't satisfy the "genius class".
Piece
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One million reasons why.
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Hopefully Ramon can make it back. JRV seems like the only rider anybody wants now.
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people are making too much of this. it's probably just rosario is committed to be in dubai and JV is available to ride the horse that day. JV will ride for pletcher in the derby
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When will we have the conversation of Rosie N. leaving definite money in Louisiana just to lose the Florida Derby and possible mount on SB? After watching her on "Risen Star Day," I hope she gets the LA mounts back when they go to Kentucky, especially the LA Oaks hope.
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I don't understand why the owners of Orb agreed to having Johnny V ride Orb knowing full well that he won't ride him in the Kentucky Derby! Wherever Verrazano goes - well, you know - "Here's Johnny!"
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Why would Orb owner/trainer choose JV for Fl derby if he will be on a Pletcher horse in derby? New rider in Derby for Orb is not wise. None of the top 10 jockeys are better than the other. It is splitting hairs. JV, Rosario, Dominguez, Castellano, Smith. It doesn't matter . You need the horse.
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Rosario was already booked to ride AK, Dullahan and LM. Horse racing fans knows that Rosario is far better than Velasquez. If Pletcher gets run over by a truck, Velasquez and Castellano might as well ride at Turf Paradise or Los Alamitos. Rosario wins jockey titles without riding for Baffert and Pletcher and that is hard to do..you know that Adam.
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If Orb wins the Fla. Derby with ease, I wonder how JV would compare Orb to Verrazano?
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MONCLOVA galloped out strongly after closing belatedly in her second trip postward May 26, from which the runner-up exited to graduate with a 68 Beyer. The daughter of Queen's Plate winner Niigon is bred to run long, and can break through with the stretchout from six and a half furlongs to a mile and a sixteenth. BE MIND PHIL is returning on short rest off a closing second in her debut, going a mile around one turn on the grass. She has a blend of speed and stamina in her pedigree.
