LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) 鈥� Cristian Torres waited his whole life to ride in . In line to get his first chance on Saturday, it looked like the rising-star jockey would have to wait at least another year when the horse he was supposed to be on was ruled out.
Then his phone rang on Friday morning with a number from California he did not have saved. It was trainer Doug O’Neill calling to ask if he wanted to take the mount on Robusta, who got into the field when Kenny McPeek’s Right to Party was scratched by track veterinarians.
鈥淚 was shocked,鈥� Torres told The Associated Press after riding in the fifth race at Churchill Downs later in the day. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 respond for a few seconds because I couldn鈥檛 believe it. It鈥檚 been a roller coaster of emotions but just very happy and very grateful.鈥�
Torres, a native of Puerto Rico who began riding in 2019, was set to be aboard Silent Tactic in the . Trainer Mark Casse and owner John Oxley made the call Wednesday to and plan for the Preakness on May 16.
Casse said it was an easy decision in the best interests of the horse but that he felt badly for Torres.
The second chance materialized with Robusta getting in off the also-eligible list. O鈥橬eill tapped Torres for the mount because Emisael Jaramillo was already booked to ride at Santa Anita Park in California on Saturday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been crazy,鈥� Torres said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 very happy to be here, and I鈥檓 grateful for Doug. He called me and gave me the chance to ride Robusta. Man, just grateful. Grateful with every opportunity that comes and very happy and very excited.鈥�
Torres is going into the biggest race of his career with limited knowledge of Robusta, who was second in the San Felipe Stakes on March 7 and seventh in the Santa Anita Derby on April 4.
鈥淚鈥檝e watched his replays, his races when he ran in California, but I鈥檓 not very close to the horse so I鈥檓 just going to watch the replays and see and talk with Doug and see what we can do,鈥� Torres said.
Robusta was the second-to-last horse eligible for the opening leg of the Triple Crown. Dallas Stewart’s Corona de Oro would draw in if there are any additional scratches to the current field of 20 horses.
In addition to Right to Party and Silent Tactic, after an X-ray revealed a chip and fluid in the colt’s left hind ankle.
Right to Party was a vet scratch, not a choice made by McPeek and owner Chester Broman Sr.
鈥淭he safety and well-being of the racehorses training and competing in Kentucky are the center of everything we do,鈥� the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Commission said in a statement.
鈥�(The commission) closely monitors data pertaining to scratches, including those based on the advice of our regulatory veterinarians,鈥� the organization said. “It is one of the most difficult parts of the job, as we share the goal of each horse鈥檚 connections for the horse to compete safely. … We all want what is best for the horse.鈥�
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This story has been corrected to show that Corona de Oro is also eligible if there is another scratch.
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