Edited Press ReleaseHall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza, best known for piloting American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) to victory in the 2015 Triple Crown and in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland, will be a member of the local jockey colony throughout the Fall Meet, which opens its 17-day run Oct. 3. Espinoza made the change from his longtime Southern California base this past summer after trainer Wesley Ward convinced him to turn his Saratoga Race Course visit into a working vacation. Espinoza agreed and stayed fit exercising horses in the morning and riding a few races.Ward, the 1984 Eclipse Award winner as outstanding apprentice jockey, has 10 Keeneland training titles. He said using jockeys on horses during training is a huge benefit.“The advantage is they might find a little 'this or that' about the horse,” Ward said. “If they have worked them in the mornings, they have a feel for them. They can have a little plan before the race [in the post parade].”This strategy is used for Mountain Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never), third to Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in last year's GI Coolmore Turf Mile in his second start in North America for his European connections. In his two most recent races, Mountain Bear was ridden by Espinoza after they became acquainted during training hours. He was most recently third at Kentucky Downs Aug. 31.“We wanted him to get a little feel of the horse,” Ward said. “He has worked Mountain Bear multiple times and knows him very well. [Mountain Bear] has a few antics but he has been gelded, which has made a huge difference.”Mountain Bear is scheduled to make his next start in the eighth race on Oct. 10, a second-level allowance going 8 1/2 furlongs on the turf.Espinoza has ridden sparingly at Keeneland, where he has won six races–four of which are stakes. He hasn't ridden since 2022 at the Lexington oval.“I wanted to try something different,” Espinoza said. “I have never really moved out of California. Everybody here is really nice and really into the sport. Lexington is unique. Everyone seems to know each other and they are looking forward to the Keeneland meet. Everybody is talking about the races, and that makes it fun. But the backside is the same. Every track you go to, people are the same. It is nice to see many horses training on the track. I am not used to that.”The post Espinoza Riding Afternoon and Mornings for Ward at Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.