Jockey Hamilton Has Stellar Oaklawn Meet
Back in 2007 Quincy Hamilton (pictured) left the Oaklawn meet early due to lack of business, and only recorded one win during his brief stay. Now in 2009 the young journeyman has had a productive meet at Oaklawn, and has shown that a positive attitude and hard work pays off.
Hamilton currently sits third in the standings with 28 wins as of the end of Saturday’s card, and will be coming up on his biggest career milestone to date. The 25-year-old currently sits 17 wins away from recording the 1,000th win of his career.
“I am happy to know that I am only 17 wins away. I want to be in this business awhile, I want to achieve as many milestones as possible,” smiled Hamilton. “In 2005, I was ninth ranked jock in the nation with 278 winners. My father, who rides quarter horses, told me to try to be 8th next year and maybe add a couple winners.”
“I usually don’t come into the meet with any set goals, like any numbers or to be in the top five. My goal for Oaklawn was to work hard, and get on a lot of horses in the mornings and maybe to improve my business,” commented Hamilton. “I am getting the opportunity to ride for some new outfits, and that has really helped my business.
“I really want to thank the Von Hemel family. They have given me some chances. I broke Poltergeist’s maiden at Remington Park,” reflected Hamilton. “He is an improving colt, each race he shows me something new. I look for him to keep getting better. He is my Arkansas Derby mount. Every jockey looks for a derby mount, and I have one. I consider myself lucky.”
Asked about his upbeat attitude day in and day out he replied, “It’s not something that I practice. I hope it comes natural. No one likes a grouch,” laughed Hamilton. “I am happy with the way my career is going right now. I have a great support system and I want to thank the many people who have helped me and that are there for me. I love Hot Springs and I love Oaklawn. I intend to make this one of my regular stops. One thing about horse racing is that you need a positive attitude. I’m glad I have one.”
Hamilton said he has some options after the Oaklawn meeting in where he will ride next. He has been prominent at Lone Star Park in Texas and Remington Park in Oklahoma.
The personable jockey looks to be active during the Racing Festival of the South with Poltergeist in the Arkansas Derby and Peach Brew in the Instant Racing Stakes.
Thursday’s Feature has Interesting Field
With closing weekend and Racing Festival of the South fast approaching, the racing office has not slowed down and keeps carding competitive races. The Thursday feature has a field of ten with the coupled entry of Nemo Landing and Taum Sauk in the allowance optional claiming event.
Kenny Smith (pictured) will send out Slater’s Peanuts in the six furlong contest. The three-year-old Monashee Mountain colt will seek his third win of the meet and his fourth consecutive win. Slater’s Peanuts has taken a step up in class every race, and will be facing his toughest test Thursday. Regular rider Quincy Hamilton will be back aboard.
Leading trainer in the country by wins Steve Asmussen will send out Kensei, who will be making his first appearance of 2009 and first start off a five month layoff. By Mr. Greeley, the three-year-old ran sixth last out in the Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park in September. Calvin Borel will be in the irons.
David Vance’s Silver Bayer finished a well beaten tenth in the $250,000 Southwest Stakes behind highly regarded Old Fashioned in his last start. Now dropping back into allowance company the Smoke Glacken gelding will be looking for his first win of 2009. Silver Bayer will cut back to the six furlong distance and will once again have Oaklawn’s leading jockey in the saddle, Terry Thompson.
Other contenders in the race, listed with trainer and jockey: Nemo Landing, Daniel Peitz, Eddie Martin, Jr.; Taum Sauk, Daniel Peitz, Larry Melancon; Katolak Cowboy, Steve Hobby, Tim Doocy; Hollywood Hit, C. R. Trout, Larry Sterling, Jr.; Early Final, Bret Calhoun, Cliff Berry; Fufty Too, McLean Robertson, Chris Emigh; Red Nation, Bret Calhoun, Glen Murphy.
Scheduled as the ninth race on Thursday’s card, post time will be 5:11 p.m. CDT.
A Little Bit More
Jockey agent Lindy McDaniel confirmed today that his two jockeys Eddie Razo, Jr.(pictured) and Israel Ocampo will be out of town next Saturday. Razo will be at Hawthorne Park in Chicago to ride Free Country for trainer Kenny McPeek in the Illinois Derby and Ocampo will ride trainer D. Wayne Lukas’s Be Fair in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland Race Course in Kentucky.
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