Jockeys Nakatani, Espinoza Call In Sick and Miss 4 Winners

On another rainy day at Santa Anita, jockeys Corey Nakatani and Victor Espinoza were off their mounts because of illness, according to the stewards.

It turned out to be a costly sick day for both riders, especially Espinoza.

They gave up four winners, most notably With Distinction, who won a three-horse photo finish in the $112,100 El Conejo Handicap.

Espinoza’s loss of the 5-year-old Storm Cat horse was Javier Santiago’s gain. Santiago, who had won with one of 10 mounts at the young meet, was named to ride With Distinction by Wayne Lukas, who collected his first win of the season. It also was the Hall of Fame trainer’s second win in the Grade III in the last five years. Lukas also won the 2002 El Conejo with Snow Ridge.

Returning to California after spending about nine months in New York, Maryland and Kentucky, With Distinction, a 9-2 shot, rallied wide in the slop to challenge tiring pacesetter Slew’s Prince for the lead, then barely beat Jungle Prince, the 3-1 favorite, and 3-1 second choice Jet West. He won by a head, and Jungle Prince was a nose in front of Jet West, whose three-race winning streak ended.

Owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis, With Distinction has now won six of 21. He completed the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.44.

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There will be a pick six carry-over of $137,596 when racing resumes Thursday at Santa Anita.

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Bob Umphrey, 53, who has been the racing secretary at Calder Race Course in Miami since 1993 and who once held the same position at Hollywood Park, is on life support after suffering a massive heart attack Sunday.

Umphrey, who was the racing secretary at Hollywood Park for three years, including when the track played host to the inaugural Breeders’ Cup in 1984, is listed in critical condition at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Fla.

Umphrey, a native of Maine, worked in various capacities at Gulfstream Park, Atlantic City and Hialeah before becoming the racing secretary at Laurel. Besides working at that Maryland track, Hollywood Park and Calder, he also had held the position at Timonium, Arlington Park and Golden Gate Fields.

He is known as an innovator, having helped create Calder’s popular Summit of Speed, a series of stakes for sprinters, along with the Juvenile Showcase and the Grand Slam, the latest of which was run over the weekend. Calder concluded its meet Monday.