Agent lends a hand in jockey move

Tom “Bomber” Doutrich works two jobs in the course of a horse racing year in Northern California: jockey agent at Golden Gate Fields and racing secretary of the California Authority of Racing Fairs.

He did so well at the first that his top jockey, Abel Cedillo, has left the Bay Area to ride on the Southern California circuit.

Cedillo won the riding title at the past two winter-spring seasons at Golden Gate Fields and rode 134 winners during the one that concluded Sunday. His 124 winners in calendar 2019 put him fourth nationally despite the fact that he missed three weeks because of injury.

“I’ve done really well here, but it’s the right time to try it there,” Cedillo said. “I want to ride good horses, and my dream is to ride in the Kentucky Derby. I’ll have a better opportunity there.”

Cedillo has one mount Friday at Santa Anita, five Saturday — including Fire When Ready in the $100,000 Thor’s Echo Stakes — and one Sunday.

Victor Espinoza, Joel Rosario and Martin Garcia are jockeys who rode in Northern California early in their careers and have gone on to win Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup races.

“He’ll do well down there, but maybe not like a Rosario,” said Doutrich of the jockey who won the 2013 Kentucky Derby aboard Orb.

The task now for Doutrich — who also represented jockey Irving Orozco at Golden Gate Fields — is scheduling and filling races at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, which opens the summer circuit Friday with a 15-day season. Only 159 horses were entered for 25 races Friday through Sunday.

“When we butt up against Golden Gate Fields last week, it’s tough,” Doutrich said. “Once we get past that, I think we’ll be all right. We’re about equal in horse population to last year, and the fair trainers are healthy.”

Main tracks on the fair circuit are dirt, whereas Golden Gate Fields has its Tapeta Footings synthetic surface. The Sonoma County Fair also has a turf course.

“A lot of horses you back off and train lighter because the dirt is easier on them,” said Jonathan Wong, who won his fourth straight GGF training title with 90 winners at the 2018-19 meeting. “You always want to try them on dirt one time, at least.”

This week notwithstanding, the weather is much hotter on the fair circuit at Pleasanton, Sacramento and Santa Rosa than at Golden Gate Fields.

“You’ve got to keep the horses hydrated,” Wong said. “Have them drink a lot and spray them off with cold water.”