The favorite who won the Eclipse Award as the country’s outstanding driver for 2021 will begin his 2022 push at Oaklawn Park.
Joel Rosario is named on seven horses on January 14, which will mark his first day in a regular bout at Hot Springs, Ark., and the first action since breaking a rib when he failed to win. bandages right after the end of December. 2 races at Aqueduct race track.
Rosario had her eyes on the North American single-season record for purse earnings before her injury and ended 2021 with $32,944,478 in earnings. Now healthy, Rosario’s return will fall on his 37th birthday.
“He takes care of himself like no one else you’ve probably ever met,” said Ron Anderson, Rosario’s agent, January 8. She is a nutritionist. She taught him how to take care of his Weight, what to eat, what not to eat. He is ready to go at any time. It will be six weeks since he fell. and broke his leg. It’s time to start over.”
All seven Rosario horses were named Friday to Hall of Famer and longtime Oaklawn training champion Steve Asmussen. Rosario and Asmussen have teamed up to win the NetJets Breeders’ Cup for minors (G1) on November 5 at Del Mar with undefeated Echo Zulu . Rosario won the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) the next day on board Knicks Go for coach Brad Cox.
Cox (12 wins) and Asmussen (11) entered Sunday leading the Oaklawn 2021-22 coach rankings. Along with Oaklawn’s budget structure, which is the highest in the country this winter, Anderson said Oaklawn is the perfect choice for Rosario, who has enjoyed great success in Hot Springs, especially in 2020. Rosario wintered last year in Santa Anita . Park, but Anderson has the John Velazquez Hall of Fame there in 2022. Velazquez’s main client is Hall of Fame coach Bob Baffert.
“We have success for two with 1-2 and 2-1 there,” Anderson said. “The California winter wasn’t quite what it used to be. Just looking for a change. So Brad we won; Steve, we won. We won the Breeders’ Cup’ It’s three days a week and the wallet is great It’s a good place for a change I also have Johnny and Johnny’s in California at Bob’s request Sometimes it’s just the flow Johnny won the last two Kentucky Derbys (G1) for Bob Bob wanted him to play there Joel won the Breeders Cup for Brad and Steve king couple in Oaklawn. The wallet is huge. Joel doesn’t ‘ I like it there. He likes it.”
Rosario cycled six days in the final weeks of Oaklawn’s 2020 meeting and won 15 races, including the Oaklawn Mile Stakes on board Tom’s d’Etat for coach Al Stall Jr., Rainbow Stakes on board Man in the Can for Hot Springs coach Ron Moquett, Arkansas Breeders’ Championship stake on board Man in the Can, and second place Arkansas Derby (G1) on board Nadal for Baffert.
Along with a double in March, including Rebel Stakes (G2) on Nadal’s court, Rosario finished a spectacular 17-10-7 from just 45 rides and amassed $2,030,576 earned money. Rosario is second in meet-up wins (five), fourth in pocket earnings, and 11th in wins — making it into the top 10 only once — with an eye-popping strike rate of 38% .
Anderson said Rosario was booked to ride Concert tour in the Older Horses’ Part Five on January 15 in Oaklawn, a race that will mark the foal’s first start for Cox.
“World-class racer,” Cox said on Saturday afternoon. “I mean, it’s no secret about it. He’s a very good driver and I’m glad he’ll be there for the meeting. Looking forward to seeing him work with me.” Knicks Go again in Pegasus (World Cup Invitation, G1, January 29 at Gulfstream Park) and go from there. “
Anderson said Rosario is expected to cycle regularly at Oaklawn through at least early April. Rosario has had 28 career Oaklawn wins, including 12 bets, with his mount earning $4,979,104.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Rosario rode his first victory in the United States in 2006. He has had more than 3,000 career victories, including 15 victories in Breeders’ Cup races and three in the races. Triple Crown event, and his mount has earned over $250 million. Rosario won the Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) in 2013 on board Animal Kingdom .
In addition to pocket earnings, Rosario leads the country in bet wins (69) and ranking wins (49) in 2021, according to Equibase, the racing’s official data collection organization. Rosario is seeking her first Eclipse Award.
“Look, like I tell everyone, he’s a world-class racer,” Anderson said. “He can go anywhere in the world and can compete.”
