Rosario to ride Wicked Strong in Met Mile

ELMONT, N.Y. – Joel Rosario, who was replaced by John Velazquez on multiple Grade 1 winner Tonalist for the $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap, has picked up the mount on Wicked Strong for the Met Mile, replacing Rajiv Maragh, trainer Jimmy Jerkens confirmed Wednesday.

Maragh had ridden Wicked Strong in nine of his 13 starts, including the last eight races. Maragh won the Grade 1 Wood Memorial and Grade 2 Jim Dandy on Wicked Strong last year. Wicked Strong has not won since the Jim Dandy. In his most recent start, he finished third in the Grade 3 Excelsior Stakes at Aqueduct. Last year, Maragh sustained a broken arm on Wicked Strong when the horse clipped heels with Moreno, who had come over on him entering the far turn of the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

“It’s hard to be loyal to jockeys and for jockeys to be loyal to you,” said Jerkens, who trains Wicked Strong for Centennial Farms. “It’s the nature of the beast. I lost the best horse in the world coming off a Grade 1 win in Quality Road. You’re forced to swallow it. What else can you do?”

Rosario was replaced on Tonalist despite guiding him to victories last year in the Belmont Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Others pointing to the Met Mile include Bay of Plenty, Honor Code, Kobe’s Back, Pants On Fire, Private Zone, Sahara Sky, Tamarkuz, and possibly Bayern.