Espinoza Ready to Fire Fresh at Santa Anita

When jockey Victor Espinoza returns to the saddle May 15 at Santa Anita Park as it reopens, it will mark just his second day of riding since the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health suspended spectatorless racing amid COVID-1 restrictions in late March.

Scoring off a layoff is old hat for Espinoza, who celebrates his 48th birthday May 23. When he piloted two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome to victory in the 2016 Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline (G1), saddle slipping all the way, it was his only mount that day.

Less than a month ago, on April 18, he guided Ce Ce to a dramatic head victory over Ollie's Candy in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park. It was his first and only mount in nearly a month, since he rode in four races at Santa Anita March 22, winning the second race on Tiz Wonderfully.

Espinoza has three mounts Friday: Curvaceous in race 2, Ellie Arroway in race 5, and Canadian Luck in race 9.

"Victor has a home in Sierra Madre and one in Del Mar," said his agent, Brian Beach. "He works out locally when he's at Santa Anita, but since it's been closed during the pandemic, he's been working at his Del Mar home where he has a gym set up.

"His routine keeps him very fit. He's very diligent about it and that's good, because in this current situation, mounts have been few and far between, and I don't imagine we'll be riding the (entire) card when we resume racing, probably three or four horses a day at the most."

Espinoza has favored working out in the serene setting at Del Mar, "where it is quieter, and there aren't many people on the streets," the rider said. "I probably run four or five miles and don't have to worry about bumping into anybody.

"I have pretty much all the workout equipment I need at my home. How much time I put in every day depends. I have a training program in place which includes weights and body-building exercises and if I'm feeling good, it could take me an hour; if I'm feeling tired, maybe two hours."

Espinoza has adjusted to the social restrictions set forth during the virus.

"The whole country is in the same situation, not just here," he said. "All the changes we make are going to be for the best, because our safety and health are the top priorities. No one knows how long it will continue, so we have to implement all the precautions we can and go from there."

In the past, Espinoza has overcome considerably more than winning a race from right off the bench. He suffered career-threatening vertebra injuries in a training spill at Del Mar on July 22, 2018, enduring pain, perseverance and puzzlement for seven months before he recovered and resumed riding Feb. 18 of last year.

Beach presently has two stakes mounts pending for Espinoza on Santa Anita's blockbuster card June 6,  highlighted by the $400,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1).

"Right now, we have Cistron lined up for John Sadler in the grade 2 Triple Bend and Midcourt for John Shirreffs in the grade 1 Gold Cup," the agent said.

If there are more, Espinoza will welcome them. Retirement is not high on his chore chart even as 48 approaches.

His awards and achievements are milestones every rider would envy, some of which include sweeping the Triple Crown aboard American Pharoah  in 2015 and gaining Hall of Fame induction in 2017.

"When I was 21, I was more focused on improving my career," Espinoza said. "But now I appreciate each victory even more, in addition to all that I've accomplished. You can talk about retirement and make all the plans in the world, but life changes. Every day is different, every race we ride is different. Honestly, everyone thinks about it, because sooner or later all good things come to an end, no matter who it is.

"But for me right now, no. I just go day by day."