Rosario to Ride Rock Your World in Kentucky Derby

Jockey Joel Rosario will ride Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Rock Your World  in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) May 1 at Churchill Downs, replacing jockey Umberto Rispoli. 

In an interview on "Thoroughbred Los Angeles" radio April 18, trainer John Sadler acknowledged the difficult decision to make a rider change was his. The Daily Racing Form's Steve Andersen first reported the rider change Saturday.

Hronis Racing and Talla Racing's Rock Your World, who is undefeated in three starts all at Santa Anita Park, was ridden to victory by Rispoli in the April 3 Santa Anita Derby and Feb. 27 Pasadena Stakes. Rosario rode the Candy Ride   colt in his debut Jan. 1.

Rosario is the regular rider of Concert Tour , a Bob Baffert trainee who won the March 13 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park and returned to finish third in the April 10 Arkansas Derby (G1) there. Baffert told Churchill Downs Saturday that Concert Tour would bypass the Kentucky Derby and wait for the May 15 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. 

"Let's be very clear here, I was rooting for Concert Tour to win the Arkansas Derby and (then) this is all a non-conversation," Sadler said. "We decided to wait until after the Concert Tour race to see what was going to happen and nobody could've predicted that (a third-place finish), really. I mean, he was 1-5 or whatever and then he didn't run on.

"So, when Joel came available … You know, these are agonizing decisions and not easy. I want to be very clear, I think the world of Rispoli and I think the world of his riding. He's a terrific rider on our circuit and he's been a great addition to California and will continue to be. But, I had to make a call and this is the call I made … History will tell whether I'm right or wrong. Things could go bad, you know, overnight in this game, but this is the decision we made for this race, so you know, we have to live with it and go forward.

"We think with (Joel's) experience over the track … And just my relationship with him and these owners (Hronis Racing and Talla Racing) … this gives us our strongest position. So, this is what we're going to do … I would love for somebody to look this up. Am I the trainer that Joel Rosario has won the most races for in his career? I think so … We were winning titles together at Del Mar and if you say, 'OK, Rosario with Chad Brown or Rosario with Todd Pletcher, which trainer has the most wins with this jock?' I think it's me. 

"I'll be shocked if it isn't … One of the great stats in racing history is Russell Baze and Jerry Hollendorfer. It's like, there's nobody even close. You know, the runs they had together … So, there's definitely some good chemistry there and we just got to hope things go our way in Kentucky."

Rosario teamed with Hronis and Sadler to win the 2018 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) aboard Accelerate   at Churchill Downs. He has ridden in the Kentucky Derby nine times and won in 2013 aboard Orb  .

Sadler said that Rock Your World, who is bred by Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally and his wife Debbie, would leave for Louisville April 26.