Gomez returns to riding, inches closer to earnings record

Jockey Garrett Gomez, who took off his mounts Sunday after being involved in

a Saturday spill, returned to action at Santa Anita Monday. The nation's leading

rider in purse earnings for the third consecutive year, he began the day just

$109,014 short of Jerry Bailey's record of $23,354,960 for purse earnings in one

year. By the end of the program, Gomez had narrowed the gap to $79,454.

Gomez, despite losing several upper front teeth, suffering a gash on his left

knee and a swollen left hand in the aftermath of the spill, came right back to

win with his very first mount in Monday's 3RD race. The rider masterminded a

last-to-first rally by 5-2 favorite Suit Yourself (Tribal Rule) in the 6

1/2-furlong Pro-Ride event.

Gomez finished fourth aboard 9-5 choice Lullabytime (Unbridled Time) in the

4TH, but then rebounded with a front-running victory courtesy of 8-5 favorite

Trainspotting (Northern Afleet) in the 5TH.

The well-regarded juvenile Andiron (A.P. Indy) showed little for Gomez when

making his debut in the 6TH race, winding up last of nine. Gomez's mount in the

7TH, We Will Rock You (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]), was scratched.

With Santa Anita being dark Tuesday, Gomez's record chase will go down to the

wire on Wednesday. He is named on four mounts on Santa Anita's New Year's Eve

card -- WARREN'S APPEAL (Bartok [Ire]) for Jorge Gutierrez in the 3RD, a starter

allowance with a $25,000 purse; TWIN TURBO (Wild Rush) for John Sadler in the

5TH, a claiming event with a $13,000 purse; KYNISKA (Ire) (Choisir) for Bobby

Frankel in the 6TH, a $56,000 allowance; and BARONESS THATCHER (Johannesburg)

for Patrick Biancone in the 7TH, the $70,000 Kalookan Queen H.

Gomez will celebrate his 37th birthday on New Year's Day.