Espinoza has pick of mounts

Assael Espinoza, the leading rider at Golden Gate Fields this winter, had a choice of top mounts for Saturday’s $75,000 McCann’s Mojave Stakes at the Northern California track.

Espinoza won an allowance race last March on Jimmy Blue Jeans, and an allowance in January on American Farmer, the two leading contenders in a field of five.

Espinoza is riding Jimmy Blue Jeans, hoping the 5-yearold gelding’s stamina and recent company will work in his favor in the McCann’s Mojave, which is run at 1 1/8 miles for California-breds.

“It was a tough decision, but they’re going a mile and an eighth,” Espinoza said on Thursday. “I think he should be ready. He’s faced better horses in the past.”

Jimmy Blue Jeans, who races for the partnership of Perry Bruno, John Gezon, and Robert Jones and trainer Andy Mathis, has started twice since last summer, finishing last of seven in the Joseph Grace Stakes at 1 1/16 miles in November in his final start of 2022 and seventh of eight in the El Dorado Shooter for statebreds at six furlongs on Feb. 18.

The El Dorado Shooter was too short for Jimmy Blue Jeans, according to Espinoza.

“He didn’t run very well, but he got something good out of it,” Espinoza said.

A winner of 5 of 16 starts, Jimmy Blue Jeans won the Snow Chief Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita in 2021. Last summer at Del Mar, Jimmy Blue Jeans was second in the Crystal Water Stakes for statebred milers on turf.

Jimmy Blue Jeans is quick enough to lead, but may yield the role of pacesetter to Crazy Dreams, who won an allowance race at a mile on Feb. 19, or Bobby’s Alibi, who was fifth in the El Dorado Shooter and will start at 1 1/8 miles for the first time Saturday.

“If we can get the lead easily, we’ll take it,” Espinoza said. “He can rate. We’ll see how the race plays.”

American Farmer, who will be ridden by William Antongeorgi for the first time, was second in the 2020 El Camino Real Derby at 1 1/8 miles in his last start at the distance on the Golden Gate Fields synthetic track.

The senior member of the field is 10-year-old Ward ’n Jerry, the winner of the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita in 2020. He is winless in three starts for claiming prices since returning from a 17-month layoff in midJanuary.