Baze rides first Churchill winner

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Tyler Baze, a perennial top-five jockey for many years on the Southern California circuit, rode his first Churchill Downs winner when booting home Moonfield in the third race on the Saturday night opener.

Baze had been 0 for 11 with sporadic mounts at Churchill dating to 2003. The 36-year-old Seattle native, a winner of more than 2,600 races during a 20-year career, intends to ride here through the spring meet, which ends June 29. Joe Santos, the son of retired Hall of Fame jockey Jose Santos, is his new agent.

Moonfield is trained by Phil Sims.

Asher tribute on Saturday

Churchill will host a tribute between races on Derby Day to John Asher, the track’s longtime communications director who died suddenly last August at age 62.

Track spokesman Darren Rogers said a special unveiling will be part of a ceremony to be attended by Asher’s family and friends. On Monday, the section of Central Ave. that runs from Fourth Street to Taylor Blvd. alongside the track’s northern perimeter was officially renamed John Asher Way in his honor.