Sutherland To Stay At Santa Anita

According to a report in Daily Racing Form, jockey Chantal Sutherland, who finished third in the Woodbine jockey standings last season and won a career high 18 stakes races, has decided that she will be riding full-time at Santa Anita, effective immediately. With Sutherland remaining at Santa Anita until their meet ends on April 17th, it is not immediately clear whether Sutherland will remain in California or return to Woodbine. Santa Anita and the Oak Tree Association have reached an agreement for 2011, meaning Sutherland would likely remain in California over their offseason and ride in the Oak Tree meet when it starts at the end of this September.

In the DRF report, Sutherland notes that the possibility of remaining at Santa Anita full time started becoming a reality after she won the Santa Anita Handicap on Game On Dude:

Sutherland, 35, said on Thursday that the win in the Big Cap was a contributing factor in her decision, which she reached after consulting with her agent, Brian Beach. In past seasons, Sutherland has ridden in Southern California from mid-December to late March before returning to her native Canada.

“It’s exciting,” Sutherland said. “It’s been a personal goal to ride here year-round. The opportunity, in my heart, says this is the year to try it.”

After racing at Santa Anita yesterday, Sutherland had recorded five wins from 75 starts, with eight seconds and nine thirds since she began riding at Santa Anita in January. However, her mounts have really picked up since winning the Santa Anita Handicap, and she will ride in five of the 10 scheduled races on Saturday's program.

With Sutherland remaining in California during the Woodbine meet, it opens the door for some up and coming Woodbine jockeys to really make an impact this season. Riders such as Luis Contreras and Omar Moreno will surely be able to pick up extra mounts that Sutherland will leave behind and will look to catch both Eurico Rosa Da Silva and Patrick Husbands, who will go head-to-head for the jockey title.

I'm going to miss having Sutherland around at Woodbine if she does not return as the meet moves along, although I still do expect Sutherland to retain her mount on Inglorious, as the three-year-old filly makes her push towards the Queen's Plate. I became a big fan of Sutherland while watching her on the television show Jockeys and I wish her the best of luck in California. The racing fans there will really enjoy having her as a regular jockey on their circuit.

Posted in: US Tracks,Woodbine