Gomez Wins Big On Return

To be honest, I am sick of jockeys across the country getting a ninth chance to "clean up". Its really getting old. Valenzuela and Gomez are a slap in the face to the honest, loyal, and hardworking riders who show up every morning praying for an oppurtunity to get good mounts like these 2 clowns do. It happens everywhere and these 2 are just an example. Alborado shouldn't be allowed to step into kentucky after the stunts he pulled. F all these guys.

TOUCHE

But PVal is riding! What is with the CHRB? If ever a board needed replacing, it's the CHRB. There's no consistency whatsoever. I know Gomez has had lots of chances also but he is trying. What hoops did PVal jump through? Maybe I missed them. It does seem that the CHRB plays favorites - whether it's DQ's, trainers, jockeys.


Jockey Garrett Gomez hits snag in return
By Ed Zieralski
San Diego Tribune

Del Mar — Jockey Garrett Gomez said Tuesday morning that he remains in limbo as a rider after getting taken off all three of his mounts on Wednesday.

Gomez did not exercise horses Tuesday and said he was told that the California Horse Racing Board investigators had not approved him to get back on horses. Gomez was scheduled to ride two horses for trainer Peter Miller and one for trainer Dean Pederson on Wednesday. CHRB officials could not be reached for comment, but a report indicated that the CHRB had not received all the documents necessary for Gomez to resume riding.

Gomez, who was given conditional approval last Friday to return to riding, said he submitted to blood tests the last three days. Gomez said he spent 4½ hours in the Amen Clinic in Newport Beach on Monday. He said he submitted to a brain scan as part of his treatment for alcoholism and drug abuse. The Amen Clinic is run by Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist who uses counseling, nutrition and supplements to help people fight substance abuse issues.

“I guess they’re (CHRB investigators) not happy with the results of the tests,” Gomez said. “There’s nothing I can do right now about it. I’m trying to get a lawyer to see if there’s anything I can do about it.”

Gomez asked off his mounts on Wednesday, opening day at Del Mar on July 17, after he said he went on a drinking binge due to marital problems. He checked himself into a hospital to get treated for alcoholism and depression. Gomez met informally with the Del Mar stewards on Sunday, July 28, and detailed why he missed mounts. A formal hearing was held Friday, Aug. 2, in the Del Mar racing stewards office at Del Mar. Gomez was fined $1,000 for failure to fulfill riding engagements at Del Mar on July 17 and 18. He was ordered to sign a contract with the Winners’ Foundation, which helps racetrack employees recover from addictions, and abide by its 12-step program. Also, Gomez was ordered to appear before CHRB investigators on days he rides in the state for 45 days from the ruling, Aug. 2. He was given permission to exercise and ride horses after getting cleared by a “predetermined physician.”

“I thought it was all taken care of and I’m not on any medication at all right now,” Gomez said. “It doesn’t make sense. I can fall off a horse, get hurt and take morphine for pain, and ride the next day. I don’t have any illegal or medication in my system at all. I’m confused by all this right now.”

Gomez said he submitted to a wide range of tests at the Amen Clinic.

“I even had a brain scan, everything they asked,” he said. “I’m doing what I can do and playing by all their rules.”

Asked what his next step was, Gomez said, “I’m just going to try and figure out what to do. I was on three horses Wednesday. But they took me off them.”

Tony Matos, who is Gomez’ agent, also didn’t have any answers. Matos was off-track on Tuesday, but he said he was surprised his client was taken off.

“Garrett is 100 percent ready to ride,” Matos said. “I’m not down there, so I don’t know what happened. All I know is he has done everything they asked and he’s ready to ride.”

Have there ever been female jockeys with these problems?

Wiz - I'm guessing that's a joke. Usually the females are the support system - for example, Gomez's wife.

Jockeys have the most dangerous sporting job. Keeping weight down, long days, pressure, injuries etc. It seems they have little time to kick back and totally relax. The daily routine, 7 days a week, must be off the charts stressful. I'm not excusing those with problems but in a way, I understand.

According to a certain woman "over there" in the other site, the track is the place to be when it comes to meeting a nice guy. There aren't enough female riders to have in the equation of boozing it up. Gomez and Valenzuela need to go away and find a job that doesnt require drug and alcohol testing. I.E, cutting grass or selling fruit at a traffic light.

Good for Gomez! As I said before, he seems to be really making an effort. PatV - Not so much. His effort is in skirting the rules.

Wiz - Probably not the best place for a first date!

Gomez makes triumphant return aboard Dice Flavor in La Jolla Handicap
By Steve Andersen
DRF

DEL MAR, Calif. – Go Go is back.

Jockey Garrett Gomez won the $151,000 La Jolla Handicap aboard Dice Flavor at Del Mar on Saturday, making a triumphant return to racing after undergoing treatment for alcoholism in late July.

Dice Flavor was Gomez’s second mount Saturday. He had not ridden since the closing day of the spring-summer meeting at Betfair Hollywood Park on July 14. Gomez was booked to ride July 17, Del Mar’s opening day, but took off his mounts that week while undergoing counseling.

Dice Flavor was Gomez’s first winner since June 6 and his first stakes winner since Clubhouse Ride won the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Hollywood Park on June 2.

In the Grade 2 La Jolla, Dice Flavor ($19.80) was eighth with a furlong remaining and closed with a wide rally to finish a half-length in front of 8-1 Den’s Legacy, who led by 1 1/2 lengths in the stretch.

Gomez, 41, punctuated the victory by emphatically pumping his right arm in the air after Dice Flavor hit the wire.

“You don’t think about coming back in a graded stakes,” he said. “You just want to end up in the winner’s circle.”

Dice Flavor ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:39.82. He was so far back that he did not look like a contender until the final sixteenth.

Through the first half-mile, Gomez had Dice Flavor well off a quick pace of 22.99 and 45.91 seconds set by Rosengold. Going into the turn, Gomez said he debated whether to swing wide, but he opted to stay in behind runners, hoping that space would develop near the stretch.

“I waited to move out at the five-sixteenths,” he said. “I thought if I went earlier, I’d be eight wide.”

Dice Flavor trailed by more than 4 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining and took the lead in the final strides.

“I thought he’d give me a turn of foot, and he did,” Gomez said.

Pure Loyalty finished third. The first three finishers each were 8-1 in a competitive race. Dry Summer finished fourth, followed by Si Sage, Uno Dos Adios, Freakin Rocket, Greeley Awesome, and Rosengold. Freakin Rocket was the 5-2 favorite. He was second with a furlong remaining but faded late, finishing three lengths behind the winner.

Dice Flavor is a 3-year-old colt by Scat Daddy. Trained by Paddy Gallagher, Dice Flavor races for Oda Racing Stable and U.S. Equine.

Dice Flavor won the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields in February, but he was eighth in the $2 million United Arab Emirates Derby at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on March 30. Dice Flavor had a disappointing Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting, finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap on June 2 and third of four in the Grade 2 Swaps Stakes on July 4.

A winner of 3 of 9 starts and $274,500, Dice Flavor gave a career-best performance in the La Jolla, a win that is likely to lead to a start in the $300,000 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 1.

;D

Actually I think he's a decent sire. But there are some clunkers, as we know!