Velazquez to ride Hit the Road in Breeders' Cup Mile
Hit the Road, winner of the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile in March, will have a new jockey for his next start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.
John Velazquez will ride Hit the Road for the first time in the BC Mile, replacing Florent Geroux, trainer Dan Blacker said Friday. Blacker did not elaborate on the decision.
Geroux rode Hit the Road four times this year, including to the win in the Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita. Hit the Road has been third in his last two starts behind BC Mile contenders Mo Forza and Smooth Like Strait in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 21 and Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on Oct. 2 at Santa Anita.
In the City of Hope Mile, Hit the Road raced in traffic on the turn and closed with interest to miss by a half-length.
“We’re on course for the Breeders’ Cup,” Blacker said. “We’re not going to be one of the favorites, but I think we’ve got as good of a chance of winning as anyone. He came out of the last race in good form. He’s got good energy. He’s won stakes races at Del Mar before. He seems to be ready for a big run.”
A 4-year-old, Hit the Road has had four starts at Del Mar, winning twice in one-mile turf races – a maiden special weight in 2019 and the Oceanside Stakes in 2020.
Hit the Road is scheduled to work at Santa Anita on Sunday.
On Friday, Smooth Like Strait worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds at Santa Anita. Medina Spirit, winner of the Kentucky Derby in May, worked six furlongs in 1:13 for trainer Bob Baffert for a start in the BC Classic on Nov. 6. Medina Spirit won his debut against older horses in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes on Oct. 2 at Santa Anita.
Echo Zulu, the nation’s leading 2-year-old filly, worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 for the BC Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 5. Echo Zulu, winner of the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes on Sept. 5 at Saratoga and the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes on Oct. 3 at Belmont Park, is trained by Steve Asmussen.
Ain’t Easy, winner of the Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes on Oct. 1 at Santa Anita, worked six furlongs in 1:14.40 for the Juvenile Fillies.