Roman to ride Greyvitos in Lexington Stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. – Greyvitos, the winner of the $402,400 Springboard Mile at Remington Park in December, will have a new jockey when he returns from injury in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 14.
Evin Roman, the champion apprentice jockey of 2017, will ride Greyvitos for the first time, trainer Adam Kitchingman said on Sunday. Roman replaces Victor Espinoza, who is booked to ride Accelerate in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap in Arkansas on the same day.
On Sunday at Del Mar, Greyvitos worked seven furlongs from the gate in 1:27.20 under Roman.
“He’s a talented rider,” Kitchingman said. “There is no question about it. I believe in the kid, and I believe he’ll give us his best effort.”
Through Saturday, the 20-year-old Roman led all riders at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting with 45 wins, four more than Flavien Prat.
Kitchingman said Greyvitos was within himself during the workout.
“He wasn’t that tired,” Kitchingman said. “Evin seemed really happy.”
Greyvitos was sidelined with a bone chip in a knee after the Springboard Mile. Owned by Triple B Farms, Greyvitos has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $306,345.
Greyvitos needs a win in the $200,000 Lexington Stakes at 1 1/16 miles to aid his chances of gaining a berth in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 5. The winner of the Lexington Stakes will receive 20 qualifying points. Greyvitos has earned 10 qualifying points to date.
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