Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who will ride
undefeated Verrazano in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, returned to competition
Thursday afternoon at Belmont Park, finishing seventh on his first mount since
April 7.
Velazquez, who suffered injuries to his right wrist and
ribs one day after piloting Verrazano to a three-quarter-length triumph in the
Wood Memorial, said he was looking forward to riding the Todd Pletcher
trainee in the 1 1/4-mile Derby.
“I feel very, very good,” said the 41-year-old rider, who
won the 2011 Derby aboard Animal Kingdom. “I wish my horse had run better today,
but I had no problem getting back into the swing of things. I don’t think the
time off will affect me at all.”
Velazquez piloted Armelda in the 5TH race at Belmont Thursday, a maiden
claiming contest, but the sophomore miss was never a factor and ran in last
throughout.
The reinsman, who began galloping horses on Tuesday morning,
had been scheduled to return to action Wednesday afternoon at Belmont, but his
horse was scratched.
Velazquez said he was to fly Thursday night to Louisville, Kentucky, where on Friday he will ride favored Dreaming of Julia in the Kentucky
Oaks and Authenticity in the La Troienne. On Saturday, the jockey has
four mounts, including Verrazano.
“He’s a horse who’s done everything right,” Velazquez
said of Verrazano, the second choice on the Derby morning-line behind Orb.
“He
worked very well at Churchill Downs last week. I’m not surprised they made Orb
the favorite; he’s a very, very good horse. There are 19 other horses in the
race, but obviously, he is one I fear.”
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