Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Dettori comes within a win of another Magnificent Seven
The winning streak began rather anonymously during the lunch hour at Santa Anita on Saturday with a win aboard the well-regarded colt Ball Don’t Like in a maiden race for sprinters.
By mid-afternoon, the world-famous jockey Frankie Dettori had won six consecutive races, including two stakes, sweeping the second through seventh races.
Dettori was on the verge of equaling, and perhaps surpassing, the track’s all-time record of seven wins in a day set by Laffit Pincay Jr. in March 1987.
It was not to be.
Dettori lost with his final four mounts, including a second by a neck on the promising Imagination in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. The six-win day was Dettori’s best afternoon in American racing, and one win shy of his personal best – a sweep of a top-class seven-race program at Ascot, England, in September 1996, a feat known overseas as “the Magnificent Seven.”
After Dettori finished last with his 11th and final mount of the day, Last Call London, in the $127,000 Echo Eddie Stakes, the day’s 12th race, he was all smiles as headed back to the jockeys’ room.
“It would not be fair for Laffit Pincay if I equaled his record,” Dettori said with a smile. “I’m the Ascot king. He’s the Santa Anita king.”
Dettori’s winning streak created widespread buzz through the early part of the 12-race Santa Anita Derby program. Bettors who tagged along with Dettori were handsomely rewarded.
Ball Don’t Lie paid $6.60, followed by Recinto Rompere ($18.20) in an allowance race on turf, Roberta’s Love ($21.60) in the Evening Jewel Stakes for California-bred fillies, Kathrynmarissa ($15) in a maiden race on turf, Nothing Like You ($16.40) in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on dirt, and Royal Charter ($10.80) in an allowance race on turf.
“Every race I won, they were getting louder and louder,” Dettori said of the audience. “The fifth, the Oaks, I didn’t expect that one to win.”
Royal Charter was a British import who had her first start in the United States and first race since last August on Saturday. Royal Charter was the 4-1 favorite in a field of 12, with bettors firmly behind Dettori. Royal Charter was the only winning favorite of Dettori’s six winners.
“The horse had never run in America and she was favored,” Dettori said. “I thought, the crowd are behind me now. When we crossed the line, they went crazy.”
Dettori did not ride the eighth race. The streak ended when Getthemoney finished third by 1 1/2 lengths in an allowance race on turf. Dettori nearly recorded a seventh win when Imagination fought through the stretch in the Santa Anita Derby before losing to Stronghold.
Imagination, the even-money favorite, was always near the front in the Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles. Imagination led in the stretch, but could not hold off Stronghold, who was ridden by Antonio Fresu.
“He ran great,” Dettori said of Imagination. “In fairness, he probably got a little bit lonely when I got to the front.”
Dettori said Imagination fought back when challenged.
“Antonio passed me, and [Imagination] went after him,” Dettori said. “In the end, [Stronghold] was too strong for me.”
Saturday was the 16th occasion a rider has won six races in a day at Santa Anita. Dettori joins Bill Shoemaker (1962), Pincay (1973 and 1981), Steve Valdez (1973), Sandy Hawley (twice in 1976), Darrel McHargue (1978 and 1979), Patrick Valenzuela (1988), Martin Pedroza (1992), Corey Nakatani (2000), Rafael Bejarano (2006), and Flavien Prat (2020, 2021, and 2022) as six-time winners.
Dettori had 11 mounts on Saturday, the most of his American career.
“When I woke up this morning, I said, ‘I hope I can get through the day,’ ” Dettori said after Saturday’s program. “I wasn’t thinking of how many races.”
Dettori, 53, rode full time in the United States for the first time in winter 202223, when he was based in California from Christmastime to early April. The 2023 season was supposed to be his final year of riding until he announced last October that he would continue his career in California.
His success has earned the admiration of the younger riders in the jockeys’ room.
“I think for the sport it’s fantastic,” said jockey Umberto Rispoli, who like Dettori is a native of Italy. “He shined on the day.
“For me, it’s a privilege to ride with him, share the jockeys’ room. Even if he’s at the end of his career, it doesn’t look like he’s at the end of his career. Why should he stop?
“You see it now, and you saw it 20 years ago. He never gets tired on the horse, always has good balance. He always gives his best.”
Saturday was Dettori’s final day of riding at Santa Anita. Late Saturday evening, Dettori was on a plane for Kentucky, where he rode on Sunday and where he will be based for most of this month before riding the Kentucky Derby weekend at Churchill Downs on May 3-4.
With his children in early adulthood, Dettori feels more mobile to go where mounts are available.
“I’ve got no kids now,” he said. “I’ve only got my wife. I’ve got just a small apartment. I can lock the door and go. There are no dogs, no kids.”
On Saturday, a California audience saw an extended example of the excellence Dettori has displayed for decades in many of the world’s biggest races. The career shows no signs of stopping.
“It was beyond my wildest dreams to win six races on derby day,” he said. “Are you joking me? I’m enjoying it.”