For jockey Stewart Elliott, it has been 22 years since he guided Smarty Jones into the winner circle in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs. He will return for the 152nd Derby set to run May 2, but as a parent.
His son, 20-year-old Christopher Elliott, has his first Derby mount aboard Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) runner-up Right to Party and is the youngest jockey who will sit in the starting gate.
"I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. When I was maybe around 14 years old, my dad won two stakes on a card at Del Mar, and that was what kind of lit the spark for me," the younger Elliott said. "I want to thank my dad, my uncle Richard Bracho, who is also a rider, and everyone who supported me. Sarah Davidson was the first trainer to give me a job. There are a lot of people I'd like to thank."
While Right to Party is a longshot, trainer Kenny McPeek and owner Chester Broman Sr. believe the colt is continuing to improve, and believe in their jockey choice.
"Chris has done a good job for us the last couple of seasons, and we're getting to know him pretty well," McPeek said. "He knows this horse. He knows his running style and we're gonna let him have a chance at it."
Stewart shared that he is more nervous to sit in the stands and watch his son ride than he was to load into the starting gate with Smarty Jones. The 61-year-old veteran jockey, who is still actively riding, will have mounts at his home track Lone Star Park May 1 and will travel to Churchill Downs Saturday morning. He will then return to Texas the same night to ride May 3.
"It's harder when I'm watching him, ever since he was little," Stewart said. "When he was in a karate tournament one time, and he was in the finals, there were two of them left, and I was more nervous for him than I've ever been for myself."
In his own Derby debut, Stewart Elliott guided Smarty Jones to victory, and followed up two weeks later in the Preakness Stakes (G1). Chris has an advantage over the rest of the field; he gets advice from his dad.
"I said you got 20 horses. You're not used to that, you never had that before, that's the difference," Stewart said. "I told him, going into that first turn, it's a little rough. But he is handling it extremely well. He's very calm. I'm super proud and appreciative that he gets the opportunity."
