Espinoza's Agent Disappointed by Eclipse Snub
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Victor Espinoza, a rider of three potential champions of 2014 as well as a gracious ambassador of the sport, won't win an Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey of 2014.
The regular rider of Horse of the Year candidate in California Chrome was not named as one of the three finalists for the honor, to be announced Jan. 17 at Gulfstream Park. The three finalists are Javier Castellano, Joel Rosario, and John Velazquez.
"I'm a little disappointed," said Espinoza's agent, Brian Beach, "because his body of work over the entire year, from January to December, was pretty good, and it wasn't just a one-horse show.
"He rode the winners of nine grade I stakes and was tied for third with Castellano in that category. He went to Royal Ascot and won a race there (Windsor Castle Stakes aboard Hootenanny), and he did a lot of good things for racing throughout the year.
"There are four Eclipse Award finalists that Victor was a big part of (American Pharoah and Hootenanny, 2-year-old male; Take Charge Brandi, 2-year-old filly; and California Chrome, 3-year-old male and Horse of the Year).
"I don't know how that stacks up in the history of Eclipse voting, whether there ever were three horses that won Eclipse Awards one jockey had ridden regularly, but it's pretty impressive to me anyway," Beach said.
Espinoza couldn't have been more obliging during the Triple Crown run, signing autographs, making public appearances, bantering with David Letterman on "Late Night" TV.
"Besides me, we had two or three other people handling all the requests for Victor," Beach said. "Because he's bilingual, the Hispanic media wanted time with him as well. Victor accommodated every single person and gave one-on-one interviews when he could, all the way until hours before the Belmont.
"In addition to Letterman, he rang the bell on Wall Street for the traditional stock market opening, did all the things he was asked to do, and was such a good sport about everything.
"Because this was his second time experiencing the Triple Crown (the 42-year-old Espinoza won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness in 2002 aboard War Emblem), I think this time he was trying to enjoy it more. The first time, I don't think he knew what to expect."