Velazquez has several trips planned

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez’s first winter at Santa Anita has been a success by any measure. He has won 29 races, including six stakes, and will ride at Santa Anita until he departs for Keeneland after the Santa Anita Derby program on April 9.

Velazquez has trips scheduled for mounts at Gulfstream Park on April 1, Oaklawn Park on April 2, and Keeneland on April 8, according to his agent, Ron Anderson.

After the Santa Anita Derby, Velazquez is likely to return to Santa Anita for major stakes, Anderson said.

:: Win big at Santa Anita: Get DRF Past Performances, Picks, Clocker Reports and Betting Strategies.

Velazquez ranks third in the jockey standings. Flavien Prat, who himself is leaving for Keeneland in early April, leads the standings with 70 wins. Juan Hernandez, who had four wins on Sunday and seven for the three-day racing week, is second with 44.

Velazquez’s stakes wins have come for trainers Bob Baffert (4) and John Sadler (2).

Velazquez was winless at Santa Anita on Sunday. Saturday, he rode Bound for Nowhere to a win in an allowance race at Fair Grounds, the first start for the millionaire multiple stakes winner this year.

Velazquez was also booked to ride at Santa Anita on Saturday, but took off those mounts. As a result, Anderson was fined $500 by Santa Anita stewards because Velazquez did not fulfill riding commitments. Velazquez was booked to ride four horses at Santa Anita on Saturday. Three of them won.