Fresu, Marin moving to New York for start of Belmont meet
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The jockey colony for the Belmont fall meet will be picking up two talented riders who are changing circuits.
Antonio Fresu, a native of Italy who has been riding in Southern California year-round since 2023, and Samuel Marin, who rode at Tampa in the winter and primarily at Colonial Downs in the summer, will both be riding at Belmont when the fall meet begins Sept. 18.
Fresu, the leading rider at the Santa Anita spring meet in 2025 and 2026, will be represented by agent Ron Anderson. Fresu, runner-up in the Del Mar standings from 2023-25, is third in the standings there this year.
“More opportunities on the East Coast for somebody like him,” Anderson said. “Looking for greener pastures. When you’re still running for $100,000 in stakes [in California] . . . he needs to move on.
“He rides a good race on dirt, I think he’s exceptional on turf,” Anderson added. “He’s a really respected guy and a quality person. He’s not afraid to work. In the morning, he’ll get on five or six and then ride eight in the afternoon.”
Marin has been the leading rider at Tampa Bay Downs each of the last two years, including setting a meet record with 155 victories at the 2025-26 winter meet. Marin, who will be represented by John Panagot, has been riding primarily at Colonial this summer, winning 30 races from 188 mounts. He has eight wins from 29 starts at Monmouth Park.
Panagot said he was going to wait until October to bring Marin to New York but wanted to get started when the meet began. Panagot said Marin plans to stay in New York for the winter.
“The plan is to be here full time,” Panagot said.
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