Clark, Jones partnership proves lucrative

NEW ORLEANS – About a year ago at Fair Grounds, jockey Kerwin Clark and trainer Larry Jones teamed up for the first time, with Clark riding Albano to victory in a maiden race. Now, Clark is the go-to rider for Jones, and the 55-year-old jockey, who has nearly 40 years in the saddle, said that because of their connection, he’s rejuvenated.

“It’s just so much fun, and what a pleasure to ride for Larry Jones and [owners] Brereton Jones and Mr. Rick Porter,” Clark said. “They have really nice horses that they’re giving me the pleasure to ride. I haven’t been this excited to ride horses in the last 20 years.”

“We’re all glad to have him, to get somebody with his talent and experience,” Larry Jones said. “He brings that energy to the barn. All the owners seem very happy to have him. That’s made it really good for us.”

Last season at Fair Grounds, Clark and Rosie Napravnik shared business in the barn, with Clark on the majority of horses. After the meet, Jones invited Clark to join him at Delaware Park. When Jones was injured April 19 in a spill during training hours, Clark headed to Delaware Park a little sooner than planned to help out around the barn. Jones said that while he was recovering, having Clark there made it easier for the barn to operate smoothly.

“He’s been so good doing what we needed to do,” Jones said.

A trip Wednesday to Zia Park proved lucrative for Clark, who won the Zia Park Oaks on Cassatt for Jones and won another stakes. Through Thursday, Clark, who has 2,873 career victories, had won 62 races from 399 starts this year for $2.6 million in purse earnings. With more than a month to go, he already is having his seventh-best year in terms of earnings, with far fewer mounts than he had in the years in which he earned more money. His career best for purse earnings in a year is $3.93 million from 1,612 starts in 1990.

“We won the right races – a bunch of maiden special weights, three stakes at Monmouth, a stakes at Delaware, second in the Haskell [on Albano],” Clark said.

His stakes wins at Monmouth, all graded, came in the Pegasus on Albano, the Monmouth Oaks on Cassatt, and the Matchmaker on Starstruck.

Clark said being the prime jockey for the barn helps him understand how the operation works.

“You become a team,” Clark said. “You know they’re good horses. When you start out that first quarter of a mile [workout], then three-eighths, then a half, then it’s race day. They just get better and better. You feel like a proud parent. I get to know all the horses. I’m with them every day.”

At this meet, Clark said he’s hoping to see progress from several promising babies, among them the filly Divine Dawn, who was a debut winner at Keeneland, and the colt Chief Istan (not yet in New Orleans), who was a runaway winner against Delaware Park maidens in his only start.

“It’s so gratifying at this time of my life to ride these kind of horses for these kind of people,” Clark said.

Italian jockey tries New Orleans

Antioco “Coco” Murgia, a 27-year-old native of Sardinia, is giving Fair Grounds a try after starting his U.S. riding career in Florida.

“I feel like I’m home,” Murgia said. “People like me. I like everyone.”

Murgia, who won a race at Fair Grounds on opening night, began riding in Florida in September 2013 before recently coming to New Orleans.

“My dream was to come here to the States from a long time ago,” Murgia said. “I always followed American racing, all the big jockeys – Gary Stevens, Mike Smith.”

Murgia, who through Thursday had won 20 races in the United States, began his career in England in 2008. He was an apprentice jockey for Godolphin in Dubai, where fellow Italian Frankie Dettori was the stable’s No. 1 rider. They talk at least once a week, Murgia said.

“He’s still giving me advice,” he said.

Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens put in a good word for Murgia before he came to New Orleans, according to Rob Whitlock, who became the jockey’s agent at this meet. Whitlock, who used to work for Jerkens in New York, said Jerkens called to recommend the agent pick up Murgia’s book.

** Jockeys are giving the turf course good reviews early in the meet.

“It’s good so far,” Richard Eramia said after riding on the course Thursday. “I like it.”

Because of rain last Sunday, races carded for turf were switched to the main track. A storm of similar intensity last season might have made the turf questionable for several days, but the course, which received extensive drainage repairs over the summer, was firm Thursday.

“It’s very early in the meet, but we like what we’re seeing so far,” Fair Grounds president Tim Bryant said.

** After Delaunay ran away with the Thanksgiving Handicap, trainer Tom Amoss said the gelding, soon to turn 8, probably is declining somewhat with age, but “he was as good today as he ever was.” Delaunay ran six furlongs in 1:09.05 in a seven-length victory.