Murrill makes smooth transition to journeyman status

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – It’s supposed to be tough times when a jockey loses his apprentice weight allowance, but that hasn’t been the case with Mitchell Murrill, who entered this week’s racing atop the Arlington Park jockey standings with 35 wins, 14 more than the next-best total.

Murrill lost his bug following the Arlington card June 14, but in the six subsequent race days, he’s fared even better than during his time as an apprentice at this meet, going 10-7-7 from 36 mounts. That’s a 28 percent strike rate, well above Murrill’s meet-long total, and Murrill has been getting it done without riding many favorites, his winners during his brief time as a journeyman producing a massive $6.37 return for every $2 wagered.