Gonzalez Named Jockey of the Week Post Del Mar Oaks Win

Ricky Gonzalez won the second grade 1 of his career riding Velocity to a win over a more experienced field in the Del Mar Oaks on Saturday at odds of 34-1. The panel of racing experts voted Gonzalez Jockey of the Week for August 11-August 17.

The weekly honor recognizes jockeys for significant riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the U.S.

Riding for trainer Michael McCarthy, Gonzalez has been aboard the three-year-old filly Velocity for all of her career starts including a recent win by just a nose on July 20 in a one mile and one-sixteenth allowance optional claiming event on the turf at Del Mar.

The Del Mar Oaks field of 11 included multiple graded stakes winner and race-favorite Thought Process. Breaking from post position three, Velocity raced in sixth stuck on the rail as the Bob Baffert-trained Casalu led the field through the opening quarter and half-mile. 

Around the second turn into the stretch, a seam opened up and Velocity darted through on the rail and inside of Thought Process who had taken the lead. Second favorite Lush Lips with Tyler Gaffalione was closing on the outside but Velocity held her off for the half-length victory in 1:48.45 for the mile and one-eighth turf test. Thought Process finished third with Preakness Stakes (G1) hero Umberto Rispoli aboard.

"I had a wonderful trip," Gonzalez said to Del Mar publicity. "I was following Antonio (Fresu) all the way around waiting for a seam. As soon as I saw a little seam, she went right through it."

"We always knew she could run, but to be honest I thought that she was going to be better on the dirt," Gonzalez said. "Once she transitioned to the turf, she turned into a different filly."

McCarthy was quick to praise Gonzalez's ride.

"I don't think Ricky gets enough credit," McCarthy said. "Very good rider, very underrated rider. He rode as good a race today as you'll see in America."

A native of Sinaloa, Mexico, Gonzalez, 30, came to the United States in 2013 to ride at Turf Paradise. Later that year he moved his tack to Northern California to ride at Golden Gate Fields and Northern California Fair Circuit. He decided to try his luck at Del Mar in the summer of 2020 and has made Southern California his base. He won his first Gr. I on Fair Maiden in the 2020 La Brea on opening day of Santa Anita and recorded his 1,000th career win November 22, 2022 at Del Mar. He is currently in the top 10 Del Mar jockey standings.

Other contenders for Jockey of the Week included Manny Americano who won the Longacres Mile, Axel Concepcion who led all jockeys in wins with 11, Jose L. Ortiz who won the Alabama (G1) and John Velazquez with a win in the E.P. Taylor (G1).