His Southern California enterprise slumping, jockey Drayden Van Dyke relocated South Florida this summer season, hopeful that teaming with profitable Florida coach Saffie Joseph Jr. would rejuvenate his using profession.
It did, plus it introduced him again to California, the place Nov. 2, he was warmly greeted by followers in search of autographs and pictures as he walked to a post-race press convention after using the Joseph-trained Soul of an Angel to a late-rallying upset victory within the PNC Financial institution Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Dash.
“That is my favourite racetrack to be at,” he stated of Del Mar. “It’s particular to me. I received two using titles right here. I received seven in in the future right here, so this place is particular to me.
“To get a Breeders’ Cup right here is icing on the cake.”
Joseph credited his homeowners — C2 Racing Steady, Agave Racing Steady, and Ken Reimer — for having the religion to experience Van Dyke within the Breeders’ Cup.
“They had been adequate to go away Drayden on the horse. He received the Princess Rooney,” Joseph stated of Gulfstream Park’s prep for the Filly & Mare Dash. “It was all the time set in stone we needed to maintain him on. We simply needed to weigh all our choices.
“Take a look at Drayden. I reached out him earlier this yr to come back over to Gulfstream. We would have liked a rider. He stated he wasn’t doing effectively. Come and provides us a strive.”
Van Dyke, who throughout the most effective interval of his profession was considered one of Corridor of Fame coach Bob Baffert’s most utilized jockeys, took a break final fall to take care of psychological well being struggles. He resumed using early this yr.
“I’ve discovered rather a lot. It’s how this recreation is. You’re not all the time on prime. Uncommon few guys keep on prime,” he stated. “There’s numerous ups and downs. You bought to get out of ’em. You all the time want help from some folks. You bought to be given alternatives. I’m tremendous grateful for what Saffie has achieved for me.”
The 30-year-old Van Dyke is aware of full effectively how psychological well being can impression an individual and a household. His father, Seth, who labored within the racing business as a jockey, train rider, and valet, battled despair, and died of an obvious suicide in Florida in August 2014.
“However the time I took off, I simply personally felt I wanted it. I’ve been going nonstop since I used to be 18. I misplaced my father at [19]. I simply saved going, saved going, saved going,” he continued. “I by no means took time to actually mourn and course of all the pieces. I took the break day for myself, you recognize?”
Day without work that paid off, leading to his second Breeder’s Cup win after first guiding Stormy Liberal to victory within the 2018 Breeder’s Cup Turf Dash.
Editor’s Word: Entry to suicide prevention providers and help can be found to these experiencing psychological well being struggles and emotional misery. One choice is the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
