Golden Gate Fields racing secretary Jerkens leaves with goals accomplished

Since his appointment as racing secretary at Golden Gate Fields in November 2011, David Jerkens has earned the respect of Northern California horsemen in one of the toughest jobs in the racing industry. Now Jerkens has been named Del Mar’s new racing secretary, one of the racing industry’s premier jobs.

Jerkens, 35, came to Golden Gate in 2005 as assistant racing secretary and stakes coordinator. He will stay at Golden Gate until he writes the final condition book for the meet, which ends June 15. The Del Mar summer meet begins July 17, and its first fall meet starts Nov. 7.

The Golden Gate job was Jerkens’s first as racing secretary, and he says it prepared him well for his new position. Jerkens said he set goals when he started at Golden Gate and managed to fulfill several of them.

“One goal was to fill the barn area, and we did increase the horse population,” he said. “Another challenge was to maintain the purse level, and we’ve done that. There was a time when we didn’t have sprint stakes for fillies or older males, and now we do.

“There are some signs of encouragement, and this has been a great group of people to work with.”

Jerkens said he’s “honored” to be hired by Del Mar.

“I’m really looking forward to my new challenge,” said Jerkens, who will be working closely with Tom Robbins, Del Mar’s vice president for racing and industry relations and a longtime racing secretary.

Calvin Rainey, vice president and assistant general manager at Golden Gate, cited Jerkens’s “close relations with the horsemen” as a reason for his success.

“We’re proud of David and congratulate him,” Rainey said.

It’s no surprise Jerkens and the horsemen have gotten along. Jerkens grew up in the Thoroughbred business. His grandfather is Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens. His dad, Steve, and uncle Jimmy also are trainers.

Trainer Billy Morey said: “We’ll miss him here, but it’s a great opportunity for him. He’s been a good communicator and done a great job.”

Trainer Sergio Ledezma called Jerkens a “great person” who did a “great job” and would listen to the concerns of the smaller trainers.

Trainer Tim McCanna, who bases in Washington during the Emerald Downs meet, said: “He treated me well. He’s fair. He’s working it, and he knows his business.”

Tom Doutrich, who serves as the racing secretary for Northern California fairs, was happy for Jerkens’s “great opportunity” and said the two tried to help each other by coordinating their racing programs.

Golden Gate is looking for a replacement for Jerkens, Rainey said, and Jerkens said he hopes the track will be able to name a new racing secretary before he leaves.

“I’ll help in any way I can to make the transition as smooth as possible,” he said.

Locals vs. shippers in Oaks

Nineteen 3-year-old fillies, only five based in Northern California, were nominated to Saturday’s $50,000 California Oaks at 1 1/16 miles.

Three of the local runners are definite for the race, the Tim McCanna-trained duo of Josephine’s Moment and Tiz Kissable, and the Michael Larson-trained Kris Furillo.

Sergio Ledezma said he will likely run Adriatic Lass, winner of two straight, but wants to see how many Southern California runners are coming north. Oaks nominee Meinertzhageni ran second in an allowance sprint Friday and probably won’t be brought back that quickly.

Among the Southern California shippers expected to run are Be Proud, a multiple stakes-placed Bob Baffert trainee, and Earthflight, a British import who would be making her U.S. debut for trainer Darrell Vienna.

Baze gets a six-pack

Jockey Russell Baze won six races last Friday, one short of his Northern California record, set on April 16, 1992, at Golden Gate and Aug. 18, 2006, at Bay Meadows. Baze had seven mounts Friday. He finished third aboard Unbridled Loyalty in the fourth race with his only non-victorious mount. He rode only one favorite, Bomb Site, who provided him with his final winner of the day in the eighth race.

Uzziel gave Baze the second of his wins Friday. Eased when sent to Santa Anita to compete in Grade 2 Santa Ynez on Jan. 4, Uzziel rebounded nicely for trainer Billy Morey with six-length victory over rival 3-year-old fillies in a strong allowance field.

Uzziel earned an 82 Beyer Speed Figure.

◗ Tizaplayer set a track record at Golden Gate Fields winning a 5 1/2-furlong starter allowance race in 1:02.56 on Sunday. The 4-year-old gelding broke the old record of 1:02.81, set by Urban Hunter on March 17, 2013.

Juan Hernandez guided Tizaplayer to the 4 1/2-length victory, which came in the horse’s first start for trainer Blaine Wright, who had claimed him for $32,000 for Peter Redekop last July at Del Mar. He paid $3.80 as the favorite in the field of nine and earned an 88 Beyer.