From Bloodhorse.com...made me recall an interview with Santos after The Preakness, when he called Funny Cide "the best horse he'd ever ridden". I remember thinking PG Johnson couldn't have been too thrilled with the comment.
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Volponi, second in the Whitney (gr. I) on Saturday, will have a new rider when he returns to the races.
Hall of Fame trainer Phil Johnson said Sunday morning that he will replace Jose Santos on the 5-year-old Volponi, who rallied from a belated start to be second by a length to Medaglia d'Oro in the Whitney.
"He will not ride him, no," Johnson said. "I won't stop riding the jock, but he won't ride this horse."
The Whitney was the fourth time in as many starts this year that Volponi ran second, and his losses have been by less than six lengths combined. Santos has been aboard for all but one of Volponi's eight races since last August, including their Breeders' Cup Classic (gr.I) victory.
"He would have to come to a decision of Funny Cide or us, and I don't want to put myself under that pressure or him under that pressure," Johnson said. "I have no jockey in mind at all."
Santos was in New Jersey Sunday to ride Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I) winner Funny Cide in the $1 million Haskell (gr. I) at Monmouth Park.
Johnson was critical of Santos' ride on Volponi, saying the rider got his horse trapped behind others, then had to shuffle back and swing around to the outside to engage Medaglia d'Oro. After edging close, Volponi came up short in the stretch as Medaglia d'Oro pulled away.
Volponi was also compromised at the gate when he had his head turned sideways and an assistant starter's hand over his nose when the doors opened. Johnson estimated the break cost the horse 2-3 lengths.
"The assistant starter was yelling no, no, no. Anybody could hear it," Johnson said. "Maybe they thought he said go, go, go, and they pushed the button.
"If you watch the replays, he was in close twice and he made a terrible decision to stay on the rail. Then had to go from third to fourth to fifth to get out, when he made the run that we were all excited about and he was still trying to get the horse at the end."
Replays of the race show seem to contradict Johnson's assessment. Although Volponi was clearly hindered at the start, Santos never had to check or break stride running in the two path behind Scrimshaw, Medaglia d'Oro and Proud Citizen. Once Proud Citizen, who was to his outside, began to drop back, Santos moved Volponi three wide to engage the winner.
Johnson said he has yet to think about who will replace Santos, who he had not yet told of his decision. Rich Migliore, Shaun Bridgmohan, John Velazquez and Jean-Luc Samyn, among others, have ridden Volponi in his 27-race career.
Migliore visited with Johnson briefly during his rounds at the Oklahoma Training Track Sunday morning. Johnson said he will not offer the mount to Samyn.
"No, we're too close. We're good friends," he said. "I wouldn't put him under that pressure."
Johnson said Volponi came out of the race well and may go next in the Saratoga Breeders' Cup (gr. II) Aug. 16.
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Volponi, second in the Whitney (gr. I) on Saturday, will have a new rider when he returns to the races.
Hall of Fame trainer Phil Johnson said Sunday morning that he will replace Jose Santos on the 5-year-old Volponi, who rallied from a belated start to be second by a length to Medaglia d'Oro in the Whitney.
"He will not ride him, no," Johnson said. "I won't stop riding the jock, but he won't ride this horse."
The Whitney was the fourth time in as many starts this year that Volponi ran second, and his losses have been by less than six lengths combined. Santos has been aboard for all but one of Volponi's eight races since last August, including their Breeders' Cup Classic (gr.I) victory.
"He would have to come to a decision of Funny Cide or us, and I don't want to put myself under that pressure or him under that pressure," Johnson said. "I have no jockey in mind at all."
Santos was in New Jersey Sunday to ride Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I) winner Funny Cide in the $1 million Haskell (gr. I) at Monmouth Park.
Johnson was critical of Santos' ride on Volponi, saying the rider got his horse trapped behind others, then had to shuffle back and swing around to the outside to engage Medaglia d'Oro. After edging close, Volponi came up short in the stretch as Medaglia d'Oro pulled away.
Volponi was also compromised at the gate when he had his head turned sideways and an assistant starter's hand over his nose when the doors opened. Johnson estimated the break cost the horse 2-3 lengths.
"The assistant starter was yelling no, no, no. Anybody could hear it," Johnson said. "Maybe they thought he said go, go, go, and they pushed the button.
"If you watch the replays, he was in close twice and he made a terrible decision to stay on the rail. Then had to go from third to fourth to fifth to get out, when he made the run that we were all excited about and he was still trying to get the horse at the end."
Replays of the race show seem to contradict Johnson's assessment. Although Volponi was clearly hindered at the start, Santos never had to check or break stride running in the two path behind Scrimshaw, Medaglia d'Oro and Proud Citizen. Once Proud Citizen, who was to his outside, began to drop back, Santos moved Volponi three wide to engage the winner.
Johnson said he has yet to think about who will replace Santos, who he had not yet told of his decision. Rich Migliore, Shaun Bridgmohan, John Velazquez and Jean-Luc Samyn, among others, have ridden Volponi in his 27-race career.
Migliore visited with Johnson briefly during his rounds at the Oklahoma Training Track Sunday morning. Johnson said he will not offer the mount to Samyn.
"No, we're too close. We're good friends," he said. "I wouldn't put him under that pressure."
Johnson said Volponi came out of the race well and may go next in the Saratoga Breeders' Cup (gr. II) Aug. 16.
