Jockeys to pay attention to going into the Del Mar summer meet 2017.
Evin Roman
Only two apprentice riders have ever won the jockey title in Santa Anita's long, storied history. Gordon Glisson accomplished this feat in 1949, and now you can add Evin Roman's name to that list. With 41 wins on 194 mounts, Roman was able to share the title with another jockey who is making a name for himself in the Southern California racing circuit, Flavien Prat. Roman has an abundance of talent, and he will certainly receive top mounts at the percentage he is winning at. He will continue to be an apprentice rider until March 2018, which means he has a five pound weight advantage on the other jockeys. This puts Roman in a favorable position, especially because he is already a proven winner. He also has veteran jockey agent Tony Matos representing him; and Matos has relationships with many of the top trainers. There is a bright future for this young 19-year-old from Puerto Rico, as this kid has superstar potential.
Laura Werner
After winning a few races in Australia, this apprentice rider decided to make the move to Southern California. Originally from England, Werner stands in at 4'9", and weighs 105 lbs. This young talent won her first North American race at Santa Anita on the Leonard Powell trained, Night Watch. This long shot came in at 26-1, and you can expect to find her riding similar horses at Del Mar this summer. Make no mistake, she can ride, and has the determination to get the job done. Pay attention to her.
Gary Stevens
Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens seems to have found his stride heading into Del Mar. Since April, he has won 18 of his 82 starts at Santa Anita; and has earned over $1.4 million this year heading into the summer. He will definitely be riding some favorites, but you should be able to catch him for a price at times. Stevens is an experienced rider with great hands.....one of the best!