Russell Baze's lone win in six mounts Saturday at Bay Meadows came aboard favored Somethinaboutlaura in the $68,763 Autumn Leaves Handicap, leaving the veteran jockey 14 behind the all-time record for riding victories of 9,530 held by Laffit Pincay Jr. Baze now has 9,516 wins. The 48-year-old jockey finished third aboard Rockin Ronbo in the first race, off the board with Tea Dancing in the fourth, third with Snolly Goster in the fifth, off the board on Irish Opinion in the seventh, and second on Boss Ego in race eight. He is scheduled for six mounts on Sunday at Bay Meadows.Somethinaboutlaura, the 2-5 choice, rolled to any easy victory in the 1 1/16-mile stakes race for fillies and mares.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Somethinaboutlaura scored by four lengths over Royal Kleven in 1:41.90 and paid $2.80 to win.
"Coming out of the first turn she wanted to go after the leader (Breeze Along)," said Baze. "I took a hold and she relaxed a bit. At the three-eighths pole, I let her go after that horse and she had no trouble reeling her in.
"I saw how far in front she was, so I let her ease up the last part of it," continued Baze. "She really doesn't feel like she's going that fast, so I was surprised when I saw the time. She's just a really nice filly."
The Autumn Leaves is the third straight stakes triumph for Somethinaboutlaura, who entered the race off wins in the California Cup Matron at Santa Anita and the Pacific Heights Handicap at Golden Gate Fields.
Somethinaboutlaura, a California-bred daughter of Dance Floor, earned her 10th victory in 19 career starts and Saturday's payday of $39,475 boosted her earnings to $540,460. Hollendorfer, Charles Miller, John Sikura, and George Todaro own the 4-year-old filly in partnership.
(Chart, Equibase)
Russell Baze stretches between races at Bay Meadows as he closes in on the record for most career wins by a jockey.
