Quinonez a rider on the move

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – October has been a month of mixed results for jockey Alonso Quinonez.

He rode Switch to a game second against Zenyatta in the Lady’s Secret Stakes on Oct. 2 and later that day won the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes on Richard’s Kid. It looked as if Quinonez had a solid foundation for Breeders’ Cup mounts at Churchill Downs next month, but the mount on Switch was given to Joel Rosario and Richard’s Kid was put in quarantine for an eventual trip to Dubai.

Quinonez will stay in Southern California on Breeders’ Cup weekend, according to his agent, Vince DeGregory, an opportunity to further enhance his status among the circuit’s riders. Through Sunday, Quinonez was tied for seventh in the standings with seven wins. Last Saturday, he rode Premier Pegasus to a victory in the Jack Goodman Stakes.

Friday evening, Quinonez has three mounts on an eight-race program dominated by claimers. Quinonez is booked to ride Perfect Feat in the first race, Chaturunga in the second, and Swift Winds in the sixth.

Swift Winds may be his best chance. The 7-year-old gelding, a winner of 7 of 43 starts and $462,389, is winless in nine starts this year, but has not run for a claiming price as low as Friday’s $32,000 level during that span. Trained by Victor Garcia, Swift Winds was second or third in four optional claimers earlier this year, and was 10th in the Ralph Hinds Pomona Invitational at Fairplex Park on Sept. 26.

In the early double, Perfect Feat is a first-time starter in a $32,000 claiming race for maidens over six furlongs. Trained by Richard Mandella, Perfect Feat must beat Lutess, who is winless in four starts, always finishing second or third.

Chaturunga is in a $32,000 claiming race for maiden 2-year-old fillies over six furlongs. She was a well-beaten seventh in a similar race at Fairplex Park on Sept. 26 but was second or third in her first four career starts at Del Mar and early in the Fairplex Park meeting.

Friday’s program does not feature any allowance races. Seven of the races are for claimers and there is one starter allowance.

The evening’s richest race is the seventh, a $29,000 purse for $35,000 to $40,000 claimers running six furlongs. Valiant Effort, the winner of a $32,000 claimer at Del Mar in July, will be well-supported.