Monday marked Santana’s first day at Oaklawn in preparation for the 2022-2023 meeting that began Dec.

I’m really excited working with the guy.” “I’m really happy working right now with Riccio,” Santana said after getting on horses Monday morning at Oaklawn. The Santana/Riccio partnership has produced, to date, 29 victories, including five stakes, at four tracks (Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Zia Park and Turfway Park). Riccio was seeking an A-list rider after losing 2017 Eclipse Award winner Jose Ortiz roughly a month earlier. That’s my hometown.”įive days later, Riccio announced he would begin representing Santana at the Churchill Downs September meeting. 1 at Kentucky Downs, when asked if he was returning to Oaklawn. The move left Santana’s status for the 2022-2023 Oaklawn meeting in doubt. Munoz said last spring he was taking a break and that Matt Muzikar, the agent for nationally prominent jockey Tyler Gaffalione, would have Santana’s book in Kentucky. Santana’s 671 victories at Oaklawn – seventh-highest career total in history – and eight local riding titles were all with Ruben Munoz, the agent/second father who brought the jockey from his native Panama to the United States in 2009. Now 30, Santana said he’s no longer driven to win titles in Hot Springs, is riding again for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and has a new agent, Jimmy Riccio. The trademark smile remains, but jockey Ricardo Santana’s return to Oaklawn comes with some notable changes since the 2021-2022 meeting began last December.

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