Jorge Delgado ready to step up to next level

ELMONT, N.Y. - The 2-year-old Rhythm Riot won Friday’s first race at Belmont Park by 2 1/4 lengths and trainer Jorge Delgado hopes that’s a good omen for the coming months.

Delgado, who was the leading trainer in wins at Monmouth Park this summer and who typically winters at Gulfstream Park, will instead keep approximately 40 horses this winter in New York, where racing will take place exclusively on the Tapeta track. Delgado said he plans to begin shipping his horses from Monmouth to Belmont next weekend.

“It’s been nine years doing the same thing. I’m ready for a change, I’m ready for that challenge,” Delgado said. “If I want to make it big one day, I need to try a bigger [stage]. The owners are supporting me, which is the most important part. I’m ready to give it my best and give it a shot.”

:: DRF has you covered for the Belmont meet! Shop for PPs, Clocker Reports, Picks and more.

Delgado said he has 20 horses for Amo Racing, the operation of Kia Joorabchian. Rhythm Riot, a son of Upstart, is owned by Lea Farms.

Among the horses Delgado trains for Joorabchian is Earth Song, who is being pointed to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland on Oct. 30. Earth Song, a son of Justify and a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Further Ado, won his maiden by 11 1/4 lengths going six furlongs at Monmouth Park on Sept. 7.

Delgado then ran him in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont on Oct. 3, when he was parked four wide turning for home before exchanging two bumps with U. S. S. Valor, who went on to win the race by 6 1/4 lengths. Earth Song finished fourth, three lengths behind runner-up Gaudreau.

“The second race was better than the result with that bump coming into the stretch,” Delgado said. “He was not going to win the race, but just the second he was going to start moving he got bumped. It’s hard for a baby to restart at that speed; the horses in that race are very good and the winner’s not going.”

Delgado said Earth Song would be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione in the Juvenile.

On Friday, before Delgado came to Belmont to saddle Rhythm Riot, he watched Earth Song work five furlongs in 1:04 at Monmouth.

“The track has been not great, it’s been dry and cuppy,” Delgado said. “He showed all I wanted to see - good desire, good energy, and a lot of fitness.”

Delgado said Earth Song would have one more work at Monmouth Park next Friday before shipping to Keeneland the following day.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.