Young jockey Santana tearing it up

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A last-minute decision to come to Saratoga for the summer has paid off handsomely for jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., who has ridden seven winners from 35 mounts through the first 11 days of the meet.

Santana’s super summer nearly came to a screeching halt on Thursday when his mount Zen Papa, who finished fifth in race 2, unseated him just past the finish line. Santana, who had the wind knocked out of him, was down on the track for several minutes before walking to a nearby ambulance on his own power. Santana had to take off one mount while visiting first-aid but was cleared to ride his remaining three mounts on Thursday’s card.

Santana won two races on Wednesday’s card and finished second in two other races.

“I’m really happy,” Santana, 22, said between races on Wednesday. “I came here because I want to learn, and I think I have the talent to ride whatever track. I’m here because all the best riders in the world are at Saratoga, and I came here to learn and get better.”

It wasn’t until about a week before the meet started that Santana and his agent, Ruben Munoz, decided to come to Saratoga. He was planning to split his time between Indiana Grand and Ellis Park. But when Steve Asmussen, one of Santana’s primary clients, decided not to stable at Indiana Grand, Munoz changed direction for the summer.

“I figured if I’m going to get depressed this summer, I’ll get depressed in Saratoga,” Munoz said. “You can’t tell him, ‘You can’t do this.’ He’s not intimidated by any of these guys.”

Asmussen and Santana have enjoyed tons of success at Churchill Downs and Oaklawn Park – where Santana won his first Grade 1 race on Creator in the Arkansas Derby. Santana will be one of several riders Asmussen will use at Saratoga.

“Ricardo is a physically gifted, aggressive rider,” Asmussen said. “He’s naturally light and wants to ride 10 races a day, seven days a week. The kid wins. He’s a physically talented guy who wins.”

In two weeks, Santana has already made some inroads into some New York barns. He rode a winner for Kiaran McLaughlin. On Saturday, he rides El Kabeir in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Whitney for trainer John Terranova. Santana and El Kabeir finished fourth, beaten two lengths, in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs.

“I thought he rode a great race that night,” Terranova said. “He’s got great hands. He’s strong for a rider. He gives the horse a chance.”