Gutierrez changes agents

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Mario Gutierrez, who has won the Kentucky Derby twice, has switched agents, replacing Tom Knust with Matt Nakatani.

Nakatani, the son of jockey Corey Nakatani, said the change is effective immediately. Through Sunday, Gutierrez had 5 wins from 68 mounts at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting. Gutierrez rode Listing to a win in the California Cup Turf Sprint on Jan. 26.

Last year, Gutierrez won 71 races, including the Del Mar Futurity on Game Winner, the champion 2-year-old male of 2018. The Del Mar Futurity was the only time Gutierrez rode Game Winner in the colt’s four-race campaign.

Matt Nakatani said he will represent Gutierrez and Andrea Atzeni through the end of February before Atzeni is scheduled to return to England for the start of that country’s turf flat season in late March.

Matt Nakatani said his father continues to undergo physical therapy for injuries sustained in a spill at Del Mar last summer.

“He’s still in physical therapy and trying to get healthy,” Nakatani said. “He goes three times a week.”