Deep jockey pool a boon to Del Mar

The biggest upgrade I've seen at Del Mar this year, and something that has not received any notoriety, is the much-improved jockey colony.

Having Rafael Bejarano and Garrett Gomez around has been a major improvement. Include the emergence of Joel Rosario and the rebirth of Tyler Baze, and there are some heavyweights again in the jocks' room.

If you don't believe it, tell me who was last summer's champion rider? It was Michael Baze. No disrespect to young Baze, but it was a bad sign when he was the best jockey at Del Mar.

Baze has dropped from 50 wins last year to 13 this season. Last year's runner-up, Joe Talamo, has fallen from 37 wins to 12.

Top veteran riders such as Jose Valdivia, Mike Smith, Corey Nakatani and Aaron Gryder cannot crack the top 10 standings.

They are good enough to win any graded stakes at Del Mar. But the new depth of the riding colony precludes them from getting a lot of work.

A deep, talented jockey colony is good for horseplayers.

Bejarano and Gomez will ride a lion's share of the favorites. If you try to beat them with a middle-priced horse, now you'll get someone such as Victor Espinoza, David Flores or Martin Pedroza riding. That usually guarantees a solid run for your money.

The increased competition for mounts has generated some high tension. Bejarano and Espinoza fought a couple of weeks ago after some rough riding in the Best Pal. When you're trying to protect your ground, sometimes, like in hockey, you need to "drop the gloves."

• STILL RUNNING -- It would be nice if a big crowd shows up Saturday to support Curlin in the Woodward at Saratoga. It's rare now when a champion such as Curlin returns to run the following year.

Then on Sunday, Peppers Pride will be going for a record 17th consecutive win, in the $50,000 Lincoln Handicap at Ruidoso Downs. She shares the mark of 16 straight wins with Cigar, Citation, Mister Frisky and Hallowed Dreams.

• TOURNAMENTS -- This will be a busy week locally for handicapping tournament qualifiers.

Green Valley Ranch will host a $200 qualifier for the National Handicapping Championship on Saturday. The top two finishers will get a berth to the NHC.

The Orleans will host a $100 qualifier on Monday for the Horseplayer World Series, with the top five finishers getting a seat at the HWS.

And on Thursday, there will be a $150 qualifier for the South Point Finale.

Richard Eng's horse racing column is published Thursday. He can be reached at rich_eng@hotmail.com.