Rosario to ride Jaywalk in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

Joel Rosario, who has ridden four of the eight runners aiming to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, will stay with Frizette winner Jaywalk in the Breeders’ Cup. Irad Ortiz has picked up the mount from Rosario on Spinaway winner Sippican Harbor.

It was not an easy decision for Rosario and agent Ron Anderson. Rosario rode Jaywalk to an impressive front-running score Oct. 7 in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park, and he rode Sippican Harbor to an impressive last-to-first victory Sept. 1 in the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga. Rosario has ridden Sippican Harbor in all three career starts.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2018: See DRF’s top contenders

In addition to those top contenders, Rosario previously rode Juvenile Fillies longshot Vibrance to a runner-up finish Sept. 29 in the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita. Her trainer, Michael McCarthy, said John Velazquez would ride Vibrance in the Juvenile Fillies. Rosario also rode California-based filly Splashy Kisses to a maiden win at Del Mar.

Jaywalk’s trainer, John Servis, and Sippican Harbor’s trainer, Gary Contessa, confirmed the riding assignments on Monday.

Rosario, 33, has won six Breeders’ Cup races and is the nation’s eighth-leading rider in money won ($13,129,450). Ortiz, 26, has won three Breeders’ Cup races. He is the nation’s second-leading rider in money won ($20,982,094).