Gomez Earned Sportsman of the Week

Posted by BarbaraAnne Helberg Jun 11, 2007

If I were voting for a Sportsman of the Week in my area of Horse Racing, I would vote 10 times out of 10 for jockey Garrett Gomez.

Gomez was the regular rider for Rags to Riches, the filly entered in the prominent classic race, the Belmont Stakes this past Saturday (June 9). The filly's entry in the Belmont was an unusual choice. Fillies have their own circuit, their own Triple Crown races for three-year-olds, separate from the boys, (colts and geldings). The girls don't often mix with the boys.

Seldom does this sort of girl-boy matchup take place in horse racing. The last filly to win the Belmont Stakes was Tanya, in 1905. Before her, Ruthless won the 1867 version of the classic. Rags to Riches had won four straight races on the filly circuit, including the prestigious Kentucky Oaks, the girls' counterpart to the boys' Kentucky Derby. She was so highly thought of that trainer Todd Pletcher decided to enter her in the boys' Belmont Stakes.

Unfortunately, Gomez, thinking he had no race on the filly on Belmont day, commited to ride Hard Spun at Belmont Park, his home base, when called upon by that colt's trainer, Larry Jones.

A regular rider for Pletcher, John Velazquez, got the mount on Rags to Riches for the Belmont race. Velazquez, a top jockey, had never won the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the boys' Triple Crown.

So what was Gomez's response to this turn of bad luck? It was unemotional and professional, thank you. No screaming, pushing, fisticuffs. No weapons. He just generously advised Velazquez on Rags to Riches' run ability. Velazquez then brought the filly home a winner in the 139th renewal of the Belmont Stakes in a tight and thrillilng stretch duel against Preakness Stakes champion, Curlin.

Losing his regular mount for the Belmont was a serious deal for Garrett Gomez. Rags to Riches had a huge day without him, winning her race and the adulation of racing fans. A very difficult and unexpected chunk to swallow, wouldn't you say?

Hats off to Garrett Gomez, a true sportsman and a gentleman who weathered the strife in style.