Veteran California jockey Geovanni Franco posted an upset win in the Gr. I Bing Crosby at Del Mar while across the country, jockey Mychel Sanchez won a total of 14 races between Parx and Colonial Downs including the Reigh Count Stakes. The two jockeys tied in the voting for Jockey of the Week for July 21-July 27 by the panel of racing experts.
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.
On Saturday, trainer Librado Barocio gave a leg up to Franco aboard the 7-year-old gelding Lovesick Blues in the Gr. I Bing Crosby for three-year-olds and up. Breaking widest in the nine-horse field, the 18-1 longshot raced near the back of the field until the top of the stretch when Lovesick Blues began his rally and circled the field to just nail pacesetter Hejazi with Juan Hernandez in the final strides in 1:08.74 for six furlongs. The win marked Franco’s first Gr. I since 2019. The Bing Crosby is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
“I’ve only ridden him in grass races,” Franco said to Del Mar Publicity. “But on the dirt he was always dragging me out there (in morning works). So I told Librado “why not take a chance’ in the Crosby”
Franco, 34, a native of Mexico, began riding in the U.S. in 2010 in Northern California and Turf Paradise where he was leading rider in 2012 and 2013. He rode in the Mid-west for several years before making southern California his base in 2018. He marked his 1,000th career win at Del Mar Dec. 3, 2023.
Mychel Sanchez started the week at Parx on Monday and while not posting a win that day, he won three races on Tuesday, four races on Wednesday and four races again on Thursday. He then made the 290-mile commute to Colonial Downs for Friday’s card posting a win for trainer Michael Trombetta.
At Colonial on Saturday, Sanchez won a race for trainer Mark Casse before getting a leg up on Patriot Spirit by trainer Michael Campbell in the Reigh Count for three-year-olds and up. Off as the favorite, Patriot Spirit raced in second until taking the lead in the turn to put his seven rivals away for a four-length win in 1:21.01 for seven furlongs.
“I think he stepped forward today,” said Sanchez to Colonial Downs publicity. “He put away those horses like nothing.”
Parx is dark until August 18 and Sanchez will be riding at Colonial Downs this week. Sanchez, 29, leads the standings at Parx over nearest rival Paco Lopez.
Other contenders for Jockey of the Week included Tyler Gaffalione with a stakes win at Ellis Park where he has made his return to riding after a broken ankle on March 26, Jose Lezcano with a win in the Lake George (G3) and Umberto Rispoli with a win in the Eddie Read (G2).
This press release has not been edited by BloodHorse. If there are any questions please contact the organization that produced the release.
