BALTIMORE, 05-26-08---The list of riders to sit atop the standings at Pimlico Race Course is a who’s who in the history of thoroughbred racing with Hall of Famers Bill Hartack, Chris McCarron, Kent Desormeaux and Edgar Prado winning meets at the historic home of the Preakness Stakes.
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Josue Arce and Scott Lake
Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC
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Newcomer Josue Arce is hoping to join that illustrious list with the help of leading trainer Scott Lake. With seven live racing days remaining in the spring stand, the 22-year-old leads the colony with 20 victories, two more than Rosie Napravnik after Monday’s nine-race card. Horacio Karamanos and Erick Rodriguez are three victories shy of the top spot. Apprentice Craig Gibbs, who rode six winners in the last two days, is also in contention, with 16 first place finishes during the first 24 days of the meeting.
All but two of Arce’s trips to the winners’ circle were horses conditioned by Lake, who tops the trainer standings for the third consecutive year at Old Hilltop. The trainer brought the Toa Baja, Puerto Rico native to Pimlico from Gulfstream Park before the beginning of the meeting, which began April 17.
“I always liked the kid,” Lake said. “He rode for me when he had the bug back in 2005. He showed up at Gulfstream this year and we put him on some horses. He is a good rider-smart, sits chilly and is good out of the gate. He does everything right and has a ton of confidence right now. I am thrilled to death. He is riding well and my owners are happy.”
The duo combined to win four races on May 3 and produced a three-win day one week later.
“I had an idea we would do good but not this well,” said Arce, who also called Churchill Downs and Mountaineer Park home during his career. “I love it here and would love to stay. I feel blessed. This is all about Scott and his faith in me.”
Arce’s biggest victory happened in 2006 when he captured the Princess Rooney Handicap (Grade I) aboard Malibu Mint at Calder Race Course, but a win in the opening race on Preakness day with Don’trythisathome rivals that score.
“What an unbelievable experience to win a race on Preakness day,” said Arce, who is represented by former rider Ronnie Gerardo. “It was just an allowance race but to ride in front of that many people (112,222) is amazing. I will never forget that feeling.”
After the June 7th card at Pimlico Arce might have another feeling-that of riding champion.
RODRIGUEZ OUT AT LEAST SIX WEEKS WITH PUNCTURED LUNG AND BROKEN RIBS
Jockey Erick Rodriguez suffered two broken ribs and a punctured lung after he was thrown from his mount, Listen Up, and into the inner rail during the sixth race Sunday afternoon at Pimlico.
“He is extremely sore,” said Paul Plymire, Rodriguez’s agent. “The doctor is saying it will be at least six weeks since the ribs are broken, not fractured.”
The 28-year-old Rodriguez, who has been a top ten rider in Maryland since 2003, ranks fifth in the standings at Pimlico and Laurel Park this year with 40 victories, trailing only Rosie Napravnik (81 wins), Craig Gibbs (67), Horacio Karamanos (49) and Jeremy Rose (49).
Last month he scored the first graded win of his career when he guided Ryan’s For Real to victory in the $200,000 Bill Hartack Memorial Handicap (Grade III) at Hawthorne for trainer Dale Capuano. His biggest local score to date was a win aboard multiple Grade I winner Precious Kitten in the $200,000 Martha Washington Handicap at Laurel on September 30, 2006.
-MJC-