Baze cracks 10k win mark (pic)

Nor Cal Flexes Muscle in Millions

Yesterday northern California trainer Steve Spect and Jockey Frank Alvarado landed in the Gulfstream Park winner's circle after wiring the field in the Sunshine Millions Classic. It's great to see a couple of our boys on the backstreatch get their piece of a million dollar race.

Nor Cal racing fans are extordinarily lucky to have such talent, and it doesn't stop there. Last year we enjoyed Russell Baze breaking the all time record for most wins. Jerry Hollendorfer was 4th in North America in wins. We also lay claim North America's leading trainer by winning percentage, Steve "Leftest Rebel" Miyadi.

Baze Passes Pincay

You've seen the news reports and the now iconic photo of Russel holding one finger up. That pic is credited to Bill Vassar (although several others, myself included, got the same shot) and really is a good one, in my opinion. I believe the shot I've seen in the papers was actually taken by his assistant, but it may have been Bill himself. The truely interesting thing is that when Bill wasn't immediately getting the iconic pic he wanted, he kind of made it happen. Take a look at these two pics I took. In the first Bill is holding his index finger up, indicating to Russell to do the same. I didn't hear exactly what he shouted to him, but it was along the lines of "Russell, hold your finger up like this."

Break a Record, Break a Maiden

Hope they both win.

Baze Still Needs Two More For Top Spot

So far Russell Baze is oh-for-four today Bay Meadows card, needing two more wins to take sole ownership of the record for most wins. He has two mounts remaining, which means he could still do it, but only one is favored. I'm hoping he does it tomorrow on the Movement undercard.

Update: He's one-for-five, and has an outsider in the nightcap. He notched a win with a pick up mount I didn't notice. That's so Russell--the hardest working man in racing. He's got 7 mounts tomorrow.

Russell finished the day 1 for 7, his only win coming from a pick up mount. I missed him tying the record, but at least I'll see him break it tomorrow, and get my picture taken too, god willing.

Bay Meadows 11/24/06

Russell went oh-for-the-card at Bay Meadows, he scored plenty of points with the crowd, being exceptionally gracious to cheering fans and hack photographers alike.


As is a custom in NorCal, Russell comes out to the walking ring first, and the remaining riders follow a safe distance behind.


Two of the classiest guys on track, Armando Lage & Russell Baze, talk shop at the conclusion of Friday's feature.


Here William Morey, Jr RB Hess makes subtle inquires of his rider during the post mortem.


Chad Schvaneveldt explains the challeges he faced in the previous race.


The racetrack was crawling with press as Baze nears the record.

Although he's got a ways to go to catch up with Russell's win total, Barrington Harvey represents not just the most personable jockey in colony, but also one of the most photogenic.

Russell Baze

Standby. More to come.

Baze Eyes Record

Russell Baze won four races in a row at Bay Meadows today, meaning he has a scant 7 wins remaining to tie Laffit Pincay with 9,530 wins. He has 6 mounts tomorrow and three on Friday. He'll have a hard time nearly running the table to take down the record on Friday, but I'll be trackside, camera in hand.