Haimish Hy rallied from last on the final turn for jockey Garrett Gomez, winning the $250,000 Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) in the final couple of strides by a neck over favored Sebastian Flyte on the turf Nov. 28 at Hollywood Park (VIDEO).

The son of Ecton Park registered an 11-1 surprise for trainer Art Sherman, who co-owns the colt with Zvika Akin, Richard Franco and Sy Goldstein.

A $10,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky sale yearling in October 2008, Haimish Hy defeated seven 3-year-old rivals in the 1 1/4-mile event in a time of 2:01.20 over firm going.

Gomez, on his first day back in Southern California, earned his first win in the Hollywood Derby aboard Haimish Hy. The dark bay won for the third time in four starts on turf, saving ground into the stretch and angling wide down the lane in an unfettered trip.

After spending nearly eight months riding primarily in Kentucky and New York, Gomez, although still feeling the effects of a shoulder injury he suffered in a Churchill Downs spill Nov. 4, collected his 12th grade I victory of 2010 while riding Haimish Hy for the first time.

“I’m still a little sore and I was pretty much using my left hand more than my right hand, but I felt if I had to use my right hand I could,’’ said Gomez.

Sebastian Flyte, the 7-5 choice, bulled his way between horses for Joel Rosario to get the lead in the final sixteenth, but had to settle for second. Juniper Pass and Brice Blanc finished third.

Both of Haimish Hy’s previous wins on the grass came at Golden Gate Fields. He came into the Hollywood Derby after finishing fifth in the nine-furlong Oak Tree Derby (gr. IIT) over the course, a race in which a lack of pace greatly compromised his late-running chances. The pace wasn’t much better this time, but the added distance served the winner well.

Breaking from the outside, Gomez took Haimish Hy back and angled him toward the inside, falling well behind the rest of the field. French-bred Blue Panis, the Oak Tree Derby runner-up after setting the pace, took the lead once again and maintained at least a one-length edge over Citrus Kid and a rank Lions Story, who would fade at the quarter pole. Blue Panis led to mid-stretch while posting even fractions of :24.42, :48.64,1:13.11, and 1:37.33.

Fantastic Pick, the 22-1 Oak Tree Derby winner, moved early along the inside with Citrus Kid, who got the lead briefly with Juniper Pass on the outside and Sebastian Flyte in position as well. There was much jostling about as Sebastian Flyte, after waiting for room from the far turn on, forced his way between horses to get a narrow advantage. 

“I had a chance to win because the hole opened up but once I went in it closed up again,” Rosario said. “It was pretty bad. I almost fell down.”

Haimish Hy avoided all that but still had six rivals left to to beat approaching mid-stretch. He swept past them all while in the middle of the track to get up impressively for Gomez.

“My specific instructions were to keep him on the outside,” Gomez said. “I knew the pace wasn’t going to be real strong and I thought I would play it by ear and stay inside for as long as I could. He really wasn’t all that comfortable down there, so I swung him out turning for home and moved him from behind those horses. His heart got big on him and he came home really well for us.’’

Sebastian Flyte held on well for second by a head over Juniper Pass, who finished willingly on the outside. It was a half-length to Citrus Kid in fourth, followed by Fantastic Pick, Jairzihno, Blue Panis, and Lions Story.

Second in the El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) for Art Sherman’s son, Steve, at Golden Gate Fields in February, Haimish Hy was out of action for more than six months after that.

He returned to Art Sherman at Del Mar this summer and won his initial stakes race, the one-mile El Cajon on Polytrack, in his first start back Sept. 3 at 31-1 odds. Sherman then moved Haimish Hy to the turf for the Oak Tree Derby, which was his first start on grass since he won an optional claiming race on yielding ground at Golden Gate in January. He finished well that day to be beaten by 3 1/2 lengths.

The victory was the third in a grade I for the 73-year-old Sherman, all at Hollywood Park.

Haimish Hy earned $150,000 for his fifth lifetime win in 10 starts, more than doubling his career total to $287,900.

William Currin bred the winner in Kentucky. He is out of Tifonica, by Equalize.

Sent off as the second-longest shot on the board under equal weights of 122 pounds, Haimish Hy paid $25.80, $8.20, and $4.80 to win. British-bred Sebastian Flyte, a fast-closing fourth in the Oak Tree Derby in his second start in the United States for trainer Ben Cecil, returned $3.60 and $2.40 and completed an $89.40 exacta. Juniper Pass was $3.80 to show in his stakes debut for trainer Thomas Bell II.

The New Mexico Racing Commission, at its meeting Nov. 18, approved an increase in base mount fees for jockeys starting with the opening of Sunland Park Dec. 10. The Jockeys’ Guild had previously attempted to reach an agreement with the New Mexico Horsemen’s Association, but was unable to do so.

The new mount fee schedule calls for a minimum mount fee of $58 ranging up to $113 depending on the purse of the race. Additionally, a separate jockey fee was added for the fourth-place finisher.

Previously, mount fees in New Mexico were scaled to $38 from $105. The new rule increases the riders mount fee scale for all races at New Mexico racetracks, including all races at Sunland Park, SunRay Park, The Downs at Albuquerque, Ruidoso Downs, and Zia Park.

“We really appreciate the support of commissioners Larry Delgado and Arnold Rael, who both took the time to meet jockeys, both Guild and non-Guild members, and the New Mexico Horsemen’s Association in attempt to reach an agreement, as well as commission chairman Marty Cope and the rest of the commission members for their time in facilitating the changes to the current scale,” said Mindy Coleman, counsel for the Jockeys’ Guild, in a release.

“We would also like to thank India Hatch (executive director of the New Mexico Racing Commission), Pat Bingham (executive director of the New Mexico Horsemen’s Association), the ad hoc committee established by the New Mexico Horsemen’s Association, as well as the jockeys, particularly G.R. Carter, Ken Tohill, and Casey Lambert, for their hard work in attempting to reach an agreement. It was just unfortunate that we were unable to do so. After almost two years of attempts, we were forced to seek the assistance of the commission to facilitate a new fee schedule.”

“We believe the New Mexico Racing Commission acted in the best interest of horse racing for the state of New Mexico,” said John Beech, regional manager for the Jockeys’ Guild, in a statement. “Just as we worked together to attain this goal, we look forward to working with the New Mexico Racing Commission and all parties involved for the betterment of racing in the state.”

This new scale follows increases in mount fees through legislation at California tracks and negotiated increases at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, Saratoga, Finger Lakes, Monmouth, Meadowlands, Atlantic City, Hawthorne, Arlington Park, Fairmount Park, Gulfstream Park, Calder, Tampa Bay Downs, Tropical Park, Fair Grounds, Louisiana Downs, Delta Downs, Evangeline Downs, Turf Paradise, Yavapai Downs, Indiana Downs, Hoosier Park, Delaware Park, Charles Town, Mountaineer, Prairie Meadows, Oaklawn, Fair Meadows at Tulsa, Remington Park and Will Rogers Downs.

Jockeys at Philadelphia Park, Penn National, and Presque Isle have also received raises in their losing mount fees. Negotiations are ongoing in two other racing jurisdictions.

Jockey Calvin Borel will be out of action the next five to six weeks after suffering a broken jaw.

Borel, who was involved in the infamous Breeders’ Cup Brawl with Javier Castellano, wasn’t punched, but was kicked by a trailing horse in Saturday’s $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot after falling from his mount Aces N Kings.

“A stifle locked up on the horse he was on and he pushed Calvin out and dropped him,” said Jerry Hissam, Borel’s agent. “The trailing horse (Blue Laser) that Shaun (Bridgmohan) was on kicked him.”

The three-time Kentucky Derby-winning rider returned to Louisville Saturday night and underwent surgery Sundaymorning.

“It was just bad racing luck, the fortunes of our sport,” Hissam said. “Actually, he was fortunate in a way that he didn’t get kicked an inch or two lower, which would have been right in the larynx.”

Hissam hopes the 44-year-old jockey will be ready to ride when the Oaklawn Park meet in Arkansas opens on Jan 14.

Initial reports had Borel just suffering a cut on his chin.

SUNDAY’S CARD:

1ST: Just Hold On took them gate to finish under Jose Lezcano, while heavy chalk Colonialism never got involved, finishing ahead of just one, while making his dirt debut. The colt raced on the grass and just missed over the Polytrack at Keeneland when last out on April 8. Back to the grass or fake stuff for him.

3RD: Chalk Rule by Night ($4.30) tracked the pace of Bank Heist before taking off at the top of the stretch to prevail in the $60,000 Groovy Stakes. It was 9-1/4 lengths back to Sunrise Smarty, who edged out Dixie Notion for the place spot.

5TH: Trainer John Terranova saddled his second winner on the afternoon when first-time starter Tag V Eye, a $120,000 purchase, outfinished favored firster Walker’s Landing in a good-looking debut. Terranova, a 40-year-old father of two, also saddled Chorus Music to take the second.

6TH: Heavy chalk Those Lion Eyes had no trouble with this bunch, drawing off in the lane to break her maiden by open lengths. It was her first start for a claiming tag, after losing in her first three starts against special weight company.

Jockey Mike Smith has been chosen as the 2010 winner of the organization’s Big Sport of Turfdom Award, the Turf Publicists of America announced Nov. 18.

The annual honor is bestowed upon a person or group of people who enhance coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with media and Thoroughbred racing publicists.

Last year Smith was a part of “Team Zenyatta” who garnered the Big Sport of Turfdom Award. Included in the 2009  award were owners Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer John Sherriffs and his wife Dottie.

“It was an incredible honor just to be a part of a team that won the Big Sport of Turfdom Award,” stated Smith upon receiving the news. ”Now, to win this award on my own is overwhelming. As a matter of fact last year’s trophy is one of my all-time favorites and it sits prominently on my mantle at home.”

The Big Sport of Turfdom Award will be presented along with the Race Track Industry Program Awards Luncheon Dec. 7.  It is part of the 2010 Symposium on Racing & Gaming presented by the University of Arizona at the Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson, Ariz. The TPA is an organization consisting of approximately 150 publicity and marketing personnel from racetracks and racing organizations around the country. The Big Sport of Turfdom award has been presented every year since 1966.

“Mike Smith will forever be immortalized for his scintillating rides aboard the great Zenyatta throughout her career,” stated John Engelhardt, president of the TPA, “but this award is for his entire body of work throughout his career. What resonates most at the present was his heart-felt press conference after this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, but win or lose, Mike has always made himself available to the press, reflecting positively on his craft and the entire sport of Thoroughbred racing. His individual recognition is well deserved.”

In addition to being the regular rider of two-time champion Zenyatta, Smith completed his personal “Triple Crown” in 2010 with his Belmont Stakes (gr. I) victory aboard Drosselmeyer. He won the 1993 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) on Prairie Bayou and the 2005 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) aboard Giacomo.

From a career that saw him first ride competitively at the age of 11, Smith has risen to the top of his profession, including two Eclipse Awards (1993, 1994). He was inducted into Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2003.

SHAUN BRIDGMOHAN &

A full field of 10 horses will take part in this year’s $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot race. The 3-1 morning line favorite for the event is Blue Laser, who will break from post position 8 under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan.

Horse                             Jockey                                 ML
1 Gourmet Dinner       Sebastian Madrid                       6-1
2 Classic Legacy        Joe Talamo                                     6-1
3 Aces N Kings           Calvin Borel                                   12-1
4 Rush Now                 Robby Albarado                            9-2
5 Clubhouse                Ride Patrick Valenzuela           10-1
6 Bug Juice                  Javier Castellano                           8-1
7 Decisive Moment     Kerwin Clark                               20-1
8 Blue Laser                Shaun Bridgmohan                       3-1
9 Sweet Ducky             Joe Bravo                                       4-1
10 Dreamsrunwild      Iram Diego                                   20-1

Blue Laser comes into the Delta Downs Jackpot off a determined victory in the Grey Stakes (Gr. III) at Woodbine. The Kentucky-bred son of Bluegrass Cat is owned and was bred by WinStar Farm LLC, who won last year’s Delta Downs Jackpot with Rule before taking the Kentucky Derby this May with Super Saver.

Due to its lofty purse and graded status, the $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot winner will virtually be guaranteed a spot in the 2011 Kentucky Derby, which is limited to 20 starters. The Jackpot purse payouts for the top three finishers are $600,000 for first, $200,000 for second, and $90,000 for third. The Kentucky Derby starters are determined by career graded earnings.

The Delta Downs Jackpot program was expanded from 10 to 11 races on Wednesday morning. The nightcap will be a starter allowance event with a purse of $25,000. The one-mile race is for 3-year-olds and upward that will wrap up the day at approximately 6:15 p.m. CST.

Zenyatta won the first 19 races of her career before finishing second to Blame in the Breeders’ Cup Classic earlier this month. The 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic and ’08 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic winner had career earnings of $7,304,580, a record for North American females.

“Zenyatta was one of the most memorable thoroughbreds ever to grace the American racing stage,” said Alex Waldrop, the president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. “Her record stands on its own merits, as does the impact she had on millions of fans all around the world.”

Breeding plans have not been finalized.

11/17 15:15:11 ET