Jockey Antongeorgi returns to Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. – William Antongeorgi III is coming home, with confidence.

Two days after riding Longview Drive to victory in the $100,000 Oak Tree Handicap at Pleasanton, the biggest win of his riding career, Antongeorgi arrived Monday at Santa Anita to give it another shot in Southern California.

“It’s a risk when you give up good business, but I’ve always been hungry to make it back here,” Antongeorgi said at Santa Anita Clocker’s Corner. “When you make a move, it’s good to make it with a lot of confidence.”

Antongeorgi, who goes by “Billy,” won his first race Dec. 4, 2005, at Hollywood Park on Five O’Clock. After a stint in Southern California, his career solidified in the North.

Antongeorgi, 27, was sixth in the standings at the recently concluded Golden Gate meet. He was a top-10 regular at Golden Gates Fields and the now-shuttered Bay Meadows but always felt the pull of Southern California.

“I’ve always had my eye on making it back here,” he said. “I thought it was a good chance to try it out. I had a good five or six years up there, I always did well. If you want to go somewhere, winning on a nice horse [Longview Drive] is the perfect note.”

Antongeorgi has won 654 races from 5,303 mounts. His agent in Southern California is Susan McBrayer. Antongeorgi was scheduled to ride one horse Thursday for trainer Steve Miyadi – the 2-year-old first-time starter Charlotte R.