More mounts elude Gutierrez AT A GLANCE
BALTIMORE — Mario Gutierrez has been on the phone constantly since winning the Kentucky Derby aboard I’ll Have Another.
Most of the messages are from friends and family, offering congratulations following the victory that lifted the jockey from Mexico out of obscurity.
Gutierrez is still waiting for the calls offering him more mounts.
That could change after Saturday, if I’ll Have Another wins the Preakness and moves into position for a run at the Triple Crown.
So far, the Derby victory hasn’t raised the soft-spoken rider’s profile. Gutierrez is still trying to crack the deep jockey colony in Southern California.
He got the Derby mount on a whim after making a favorable impression on owner Paul Reddam. Impressed by how Gutierrez rode a race at Santa Anita, Reddam decided to give the newcomer a chance.
The horse and rider tandem clicked immediately. They are unbeaten in the three races since teaming up, a string that includes the Santa Anita Derby.
That success hasn’t opened many doors for Gutierrez.
“I’m still not riding that many horses,” Gutierrez said. What: The 137th running of the Preakness Stakes Where: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore Distance: 113/16 miles When: Post time is 5:05 p.m. Saturday On TV: Undercard at 1:30 p.m. on NBCSN. Preakness coverage 3:30 p.m. On Ch. 5. “Everybody knows California racing has top trainers and top jockeys. I’m just glad to be riding with them. I am getting a lot of calls, but not to ride.”
Last weekend he had only four mounts at Hollywood Park.
A breakout is only a matter of time, said Doug O’neill, I’ll Have Another’s trainer.
“Mario is the closest thing to Rafael Bejarano who many of you are familiar with,” O’neill said. “Some guys have it and some don’t and Mario has it. It won’t be long before his business picks up.”
Till then, Gutierrez is focusing on the Preakness.
“The horse is going to take me there,” he said. “I believe in the horse. He did it for me in Kentucky. He’s looking great. The horse is proving a lot of people wrong.”
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