Velazquez to spend winter riding at Santa Anita

DEL MAR, Calif. – John Velazquez, the Hall of Fame rider, will be switching coasts this winter, as he will be based for the first time at Santa Anita after spending most of his previous winters in South Florida.

Velazquez on Sunday at Del Mar said the only thing holding him back was finding suitable housing, but by Monday morning that had been resolved, according to his agent, Ron Anderson.

Velazquez, who turned 50 last week, has been traveling regularly to Southern California this year, frequently partnering with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert with horses like Medina Spirit, this year’s winner of the Kentucky Derby. Medina Spirit is based at Santa Anita and is pointing to the Saudi Cup next February.

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“Johnny’s great,” Baffert said Monday morning. “He loves coming out here. He’s always welcome.”

Velazquez was at Del Mar this past weekend, where he had several mounts for trainer Richard Baltas in addition to his usual spot on well-regarded Baffert 2-year-old maidens like the Violence colt Newgrange, who won on debut Sunday. Velazquez also won the Derby in concert with Baffert in 2020 with Authentic, and he has been the regular rider of the Baffert-trained champion female sprinter Gamine.

Velazquez has won 6,357 races during a distinguished career that includes four Kentucky Derby wins, two Belmonts, 18 Breeders’ Cup wins, two Eclipse Awards as champion jockey, and induction to the Hall of Fame in 2012.

Anderson also represents jockey Joel Rosario, who is headed to Oaklawn Park this winter after being based in California in recent winters. Anderson said Rosario’s relationship with trainers Steve Asmussen and Brad Cox, both of whom have large strings at Oaklawn, was a significant factor in heading there for the winter. Rosario won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Asmussen-trained Echo Zulu, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Cox-trained Knicks Go.

“He’s been doing well with Steve and Brad, and the purses at Oaklawn are twice as big as in Florida,” Anderson said.

Anderson said both riders will be traveling during the winter for major stakes in other locales.

“Joel can always hop on a plane to Santa Anita, and Johnny can come to Oaklawn or Florida,” Anderson said.