Espinoza rides Big Kick to victory in San Juan Capistrano Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – June was a month like no other for jockey Victor Espinoza.

On June 7, Espinoza rode Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner California Chrome to a fourth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes, ending a chance for a Triple Crown sweep for the popular colt.

On June 17, Espinoza won the Windsor Castle Stakes for 2-year-olds at Royal Ascot in England for trainer Wesley Ward on Hootenanny. That week, Espinoza met the Queen of England at the races.

On Sunday, Espinoza rode his final stakes of the month in the $200,500 San Juan Capistrano Stakes, guiding Big Kick to a front-running win in the turf marathon at Santa Anita.

“It was an interesting month that I had,” the soft-spoken Espinoza said after the San Juan Capistrano. “You don’t know what will happen.”

Big Kick, whom Espinoza rode to a win in an optional claimer over 1 1/4 miles on turf June 13, never was challenged in the Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano over about 1 3/4 miles on turf and won by 2 3/4 lengths over 3-5 Quick Casablanca.

Big Kick ($11.60) was timed in 2:46.78. He led by as many as 10 lengths on the backstretch.

Espinoza knew Big Kick’s best chance was to lead throughout and urged the 5-year-old gelding clear on the turn.

“At the three-eighths pole, I had to open up as much as I could,” Espinoza said.

Quick Casablanca closed from fifth in a field of seven to finish a clear second, 9 3/4 lengths clear of the 8-1 Starspangled Heat. Bailoutbobby was fourth, followed by Black Spirit, and Dr Action. American Act was pulled up on the backstretch and was walked off.

Big Kick, who is by Tiznow, has won 5 of 19 starts and earned $254,631. Trained by Mike Machowsky for a partnership, Big Kick, an Ontario-bred, won his first stakes in the San Juan Capistrano Stakes. In August, 2012, Big Kick finished 13th of 14 in the Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine in August 2012, the third leg of Canada’s Triple Crown.