Rosario earns 3rd straight riding title at Del Mar
September 7, 2011DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) - Drill survived a bumping skirmish in the final strides to win the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity, giving Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his 10th win in the race on closing day at Del Mar Wednesday.
Joel Rosario became the first jockey to win three consecutive riding titles at the seaside track in 57 years, with 49 winners to 42 for runner-up Joe Talamo. Hall of Famer Bill Shoemaker won six straight titles from 1949-54.
Mike Mitchell won the training title, edging out John Sadler 25-24, for his first crown since 1996.
Ridden by Martin Garcia, Drill was knocked sideways in the final strides when Majestic City bore out sharply, forcing 4-5 favorite Creative Cause out into Drill, who won by a neck.