Reylu Gutierrez upbeat as apprenticeship ends

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After enjoying a sensational apprenticeship, life begins anew for Reylu Gutierrez who officially becomes a journeyman jockey on Sunday at Aqueduct.

The transition to journeyman status means Gutierrez loses the five-pound weight allowance he has been riding with for the last year. It can be a difficult transition as trainers who used Gutierrez because of the weight break may now look to a different apprentice. Gutierrez is named on four horses on Sunday’s nine-race card.

For his part, Gutierrez, a finalist for the 2018 Eclipse Award as leading apprentice, is maintaining an upbeat attitude about the future.

“I really don’t have a concern,” Gutierrez said before the start of Friday’s card at Aqueduct. “It’s like being in the business world and going from one job to the next. It’s about transitioning and learning. It’s normal that I’ll lose business like every bug boy.”

Gutierrez entered Friday’s card as the fifth-leading rider at the Aqueduct winter meet with 41 victories, despite a recent 2 for 51 slump. One of his victories this winter came aboard Not That Brady in the Damon Runyon Stakes. Gutierrez was scheduled to ride Not That Brady in Saturday’s Grade 3 Gotham.

Gutierrez was hard on himself for losing the Grade 3 Withers on Not That Brady, opening the rail up for Tax to come through and beat him by a head.

“He made my skin a lot thicker; losing that race was probably the most meaningful race of my career,” Gutierrez said. “Winning it would have been great, but losing it taught me a lot more about myself, about the job, ups and downs.”

Apprentice riders do not get to ride with a weight allowance in a stakes race. Gutierrez was named to ride in three of the four stakes on Saturday’s card at Aqueduct, a sign of confidence from trainers who will likely stick with him moving forward. He has ridden in 25 stakes over two years.

Another positive sign for Gutierrez is that agent Jimmy Riccio Jr. will still book mounts for him. Riccio, who also is the agent for reigning Eclipse Award winner Jose Ortiz, has worked for Joe Bravo in the past in New York. Agents are restricted to two riders.

“I really like the kid, he’s a very hard worker, very smart rider,” Riccio said of Gutierrez. “The weight hasn’t been the easiest for him, reducing to make apprentice weight. When he becomes a journeyman he can add a few pounds to a lot of his mounts. He’s going to be stronger.”

While Gutierrez acknowledges he could lose some business, he did find a silver lining to being able to ride five pounds heavier.

“I heard New York pizza is the best pizza, so now I can take people up on that,” he said.