Richard’s Kid could answer all questions while going for
third Pacific Classic
One of the more fascinating of the many questions surrounding Sunday’s 22nd
running of the Grade1, $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar is this: Will the
change in owner, trainer, jockey and immediate surroundings engendered by last
weekend’s sale effect the performance of Richard’s Kid?
Only the two-time Classic winner himself, Richard’s Kid, knows for sure. And
the seven-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid isn’t talking.
But it would certainly appear that (cue the rich baritone voice of actor
Dennis Haysbert from the All-State commercials) “He’s gone from good hands to
good hands.”
From trainer Bob Baffert to Leandro Mora. From a Hall of Famer in Baffert to
one who recorded the first “official” training victory of his career with
$40,000 claimer Jesse’s Giacomo in Thursday’s 6TH race at Del Mar and was given
an icewater dousing in celebration by the crew when he got back to the barn.
But, of course, there’s a lot more to Mora, 53, than that. He has been a top
assistant to trainers Gary Jones, Dale Landers, Dave Bernstein and Brian
Mayberry and, for the last 10, for Doug O’Neill. Mora took over the O’Neill
stable last Sunday when O’Neill started serving a 40-day suspension and received
Richard’s Kid as an unexpected welcoming gift.
He may have one official win to his name, but the number of winners he has
saddled while deputizing for Mayberry and O’Neill “would be pretty big,” Mora
said Friday morning.
“Even with the horses running in Doug’s name, I took it very personally
(regarding) how they trained and how they did,” Mora said. “It’s the same now
that Doug’s not here. I know the horses and the people and how we do things
around this stable.
“I’ve been through a lot of big races before and it’s not any different with
the horses in my name. I have no problem getting to sleep nights and I sleep
well. I’m not going to lose any sleep (over Richard’s Kid) because I know he can
do even more than we expect.”
From jockey Rafael Bejarano to Victor Espinoza.
Espinoza was, actually, the first rider for Richard’s Kid when the dark bay
came West in 2009 to Baffert’s barn. With Espinoza up, Richard’s Kid finished
seventh of eight in the Grade 1 Eddie Read Handicap on grass, then was nosed out
for victory in the Cougar II Handicap on Polytrack, the start that encouraged
Baffert to enter the then-four-year-old in the Pacific Classic.
Espinoza got the call from Baffert on three-year-old Misremembered,
considered the better of his two Pacific Classic horses. Mike Smith was an
eleventh-hour choice to ride Richard’s Kid and the result was a $50.80 upset
victory. The following year, Smith did it again.
But Smith is one of six riders to have guided Richard’s Kid to victory. And
Del Mar is one of four tracks where Richard’s Kid has victories.
From the ownership of Zabeel International Racing to a seven-member
partnership headed by Paul Boghossian Sr., Richard’s Kid will run in the silks
of the Boghossians’ Triple B Farms.
Boghossian, a 70-year-old native of Syria who emigrated to the United States
in 1964, founded North Hollywood-based Armorcast Products Company and became an
instant racing fan when taken to Santa Anita by a friend.
Sons Paul Jr. and Christopher have followed their father in both the
Armorcast Products and horse racing businesses. Triple B Farms was started in
1999 and the stable’s top horses have included Breeders’ Cup runners Vino Tinto
and Shamdinan.
Espinoza was Boghossian’s choice to ride Richard’s Kid.
“I’ve known Victor for a long time, he’s been riding for me for awhile,”
Boghossian said. “He’s a very competent rider and I absolutely think he can win
this race on this horse.”
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