Espinoza Looks to Keep His Hot Streak Going

After 13 days of the meet at Del Mar, Victor Espinoza is atop the jockey standings, which is where he was when Hollywood Park ended its spring-summer season on July 16.

Espinoza, who has 17 winners, three more than runner-up Alex Solis, has mounts in five of the eight races today and all look to be contenders.

In the seventh, the afternoon’s most lucrative race and part of a pick six with a carry-over of $134,339, Espinoza will be aboard Jazzerin in the $63,000 optional claimer for California bred fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Trained by Gary Mandella for owners Joe and Lola Sample, Jazzerin, a 3-year-old daughter of Dixie Dot Com, has run well in two starts on turf. She won a $62,500 claimer under Espinoza at 11-1 on April 27 at Hollywood Park and was a close third in an allowance race on June 3 in which she was beaten by only a head.

Espinoza is also scheduled to be aboard Irish Ty, also for Mandella, in the first, Easy Obsession in the third, Medzendeekron in the fourth and Anna’s Ex Citement in the fifth.

Besides Jazzerin, the other contenders in the seventh are Burst Of Light, Lady Truffles and recent maiden winner Walkonkaydeeavenue.

Race of the day: Artistic Express, who won by 7 3/4 lengths in her turf debut on June 29 at Belmont Park, will stretch out to 1 1/8 miles on the Saratoga lawn today in the $150,000 Statue of Liberty Stakes.

Cornelio Velasquez will ride the 3-year-old Western Expression filly for owner-breeders Chester and Mary Broman and trainer Ramon Hernandez in the race restricted to New York breds. Saratoga hopes to resume racing today after being forced to cancel Wednesday, along with Delaware Park and Suffolk Downs, because of extreme heat.

One for the road: Calypso Band makes his first start since Sept. 14 and first for trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. and should be a healthy price in the fifth race today at Saratoga.

The 4-year-old Dixieland Band colt is owned by breeder Edward Evans and will have Edgar Prado aboard in the $52,000 optional claimer at 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass. Calypso Band won an allowance race going a mile on the Belmont Park turf in his initial start on the lawn on July 3, 2005.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Tizmet in the fourth, Anna’s Ex Citement and She Looks Famous in the fifth and all in the sixth.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 2/41. Money: (previous day/meet total): $9.60/$221. Total money bet: $222.