Doocy Awaits Milestone
When it comes to milestones, author Rose Kennedy says it best, “Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments.” If that quote rings true, then Jockey Tim Doocy (pictured) has 15 more moments before he captures his 5,000th career win.
Tim Doocy has been an Oaklawn favorite now for some time. He has ridden some of Oaklawn’s all-time fan favorite horses in Chindi, who won $1,000,000 in purse money, and now has Semaphore Man, who has been king of the sprint division at Oaklawn for the past couple of years.
“When I get there I’ll be there. But I’m not putting any pressure on myself,” mentioned the veteran jockey. “My choice is to reach the 5,000 this Oaklawn meeting, but if not, then I get the number at Prairie Meadows.”
As of the fifth race on Saturday, Doocy had 9wins, 17 seconds, and 20 wins. “A bob of a few heads and I’d already be closing in on the big number,” he noted. “Too bad the photo finish camera wasn’t working at that time.”
With the meet at its halfway point today, Doocy was asked if he could hit the 5,000 mark by the end of the meet on April 11.
“I’m sure I have won 15 races in that amount of time, but you just can’t guess when it will happen,” mentioned Doocy between races on Saturday. “One of the reasons I would like to reach the 5,000 win milestone here at Oaklawn is that our neighbors from Oklahoma and Hot Springs are both pulling for us. My wife Terry and I have talked about it a couple times and she says where ever I reach it, she will be there to take the picture with me, and give me a big hug.”
Doocy, long heralded as one of the good guys in racing, can’t help but get picked on in the jocks room from some of the young guns. Tanner Riggs joked, “Tim rides as well as he ever did, but he doesn’t remember well sometimes. I’m just joking, when Tim hits 5,000, I want to be one of the first ones to congratulate him.”
Wise Kid Gives Ritchey Another Win
Trainer Tim Ritchey (pictured) has to be smiling ear to ear after his three-year-old colt Wise Kid took his second race of his young career by winning yesterday’s mile and sixteenth feature. That now puts Ritchey in a good position with both his three-year-old filly Bon Jovi Girl, who won impressively in Thursday’s feature, and now Wise Kid, who has started to make a name for himself amongst three-year-olds.
Now an Oaklawn regular, Ritchey has made a statement with young horses at the spa. In 2005 Afleet Alex powered home in the $50,000 Mountain Valley on his way to taking the $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby, and later the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. There have been no doubts that Ritchey has had some nice three-year-olds come from his barn, and he now has Wise Kid. Making his first start at Oaklawn, the son of Lemon Drop Kid showed his ability to go around two turns in his maiden race. He showed even more ability in yesterday’s feature, winning by a comfortable four and a quarter lengths.
“Right now we are going to see how he comes out of this last race before we decide what we are going to do with him,” commented the conditioner. “He is a nice horse, and the last race really helped him. The blinkers helped him too. He was doing well this morning, and we will take it day by day. We will give it four or five days before we decide what we are going to do with him next.”
When looking at Wise Kid’s pedigree some may notice he has the same dam as Courting Wisdom. Courting Wisdom, a four-year-old by Donierelle Court, currently resides in Ritchey’s barn at Oaklawn.
A Little Bit More
Jockey Tanner Riggs (pictured) will be leaving the jocks room at Oaklawn on Monday to ride the upcoming meet at Hawthorne. “That is were my business is, but don’t rule me out for not coming back. I really liked Oaklawn and had a great time,” smiled Riggs.
Silver City recorded his first workout since running second in the Southwest on the February 16th. The Bret Calhoun trainee worked a half mile in 47.60, the fastest at that distance. Plans for the son of Unbridled Song are still undecided.
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