Jose Ortiz, on a fast track to superstardom at age 24 after winning his first Eclipse Award as North America’s outstanding jockey, is taking followers of America’s Best Racing along for the ride this year by writing a diary with Tom Pedulla.
Welcome to Tacos and Trifectas! Each week, America’s Best Racing’s Southern California correspondent Jose Contreras - @LosPonies to those who follow him on Twitter - will provide a taco review along with a selection that he will key in trifecta bets in hopes of winning some cash to buy more tacos! Contreras will map out a trifecta betting strategy for how to key his main pick and keep track of his return on investment (ROI), which was positive in 2017.
Stop back each week if you love tacos and want a trifecta play!
Mike Smith, 52, became the second-oldest jockey to win the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve when he guided Justify to an authoritative 2 ½-length victory on May 5. Bill Shoemaker was 54 when he brought home longshot Ferdinand in 1986. It was the second Derby victory for Smith, who shocked the world with 50-1 longshot Giacomo in 2005.
Featuring America’s Best Racing’s deep roster of talented contributors, including former ESPN SportsCenter weekend anchor now-turned radio personality Bram Weinstein, who serves as the host of “The Winner’s Circle”; Joe Kristufek, paddock analyst at fabled Churchill Downs; and Dan Tordjman, “The Winner’s Circle” presented by SB Nation Radio brings together these accomplished racing insiders to share their knowledge, tips, insights, and opinions by offering a unique, weekly perspective of our sports landscape.
Jim Rome, a nationally syndicated sports radio personality and Thoroughbred owner who has become one of the sport’s leading advocates, was nominated to the National Radio Hall of Fame, and you can vote for him to be inducted now at radiovote.com.
