Mario Gutierrez -Jockey of I'll Have Another

[The Shadow]

This will cheer everyone up, after reading bad rap on O'Neill

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...rticle2424540/

[Starine]

It's really hard not to root for him.

[Rick1323]

TVG showed a shot of the So Cal jock colony watching the Derby. Mario is obviously well liked by the way they were cheering for him down the stretch.....

[tres borrachos]

It was a pleasure watching Mario's sincere, humble, startled reaction to winning that race. His tears were real. He was in awe, and he clearly adores IHA. With all due respect to some of the other jocks in that race, winning for them doesn't have the impact that it once did, or that it does to a kid like Mario. Gomez, Desormeaux, Borel...been there, done that, no more excitement about the big win.

This victory is a cause for celebration. It just shows that an $11,000 colt with a famous lead pony and a neophyte jockey can experience the Cinderella story too.

[gravano]

He's been the best jockey on the trail this year.
Look at all the trouble in the ugly Robbie Lewis, then a neck win off a layoff in a must-win situation in the Santa Anita Derby over a horse that just beat Bodemeister at 9F (showing the ice in his veins). And the great ride in the Derby, just catching Bode and escaping Dullahan, running over what may have been a better part of the track.

I like Irwin and Team Valor very much, but switching jockeys for the Derby and saying you think all trainers are liars didn't exactly make a sweet story.

[Blue Jeans]

Posted yesterday ....

Cheers to Mario Gutierrez .... can't have one without the other in this sport!

http://www.kentucky.com/2012/05/05/2...rst-derby.html

[Wintertree]

Such an endearing story, and such a nice rider. He has absolute confidence in his horse, and the trust goes both ways. I love it when jockey and mount really feel like a team. They're both tough cookies.

[Secretariat Forever]

Him and I'll Have Another together are hard not to root for.

[Langfuhr]

I thought it was the cutest thing the way he was crying from the moment he pulled up all the way to the winner's circle, just constantly wiping his face!

[luvsgeldings]

he is really such a sweet young man - before the santa anita derby, while the horses were making their way out to the track from the paddock area, mario was sitting on IHA... beaming from ear to ear - smiling - looking at people lining the rail who were wishing him good luck, thanking them - he just looked so happy and full of pride to be riding a horse he really seemed to love in such a big race - you could see the joy on his face - could tell it was such a great honor to him to be riding in the santa anita derby - it just struck me that he was so happy and making eye contact with those of us who smiled back at him, wishing him well before his race - this guy has a sincere appreciation for riding a good horse in a big race - just to be in a big race - and those tears he shed after the derby... that was genuine heartfelt gratitude right there - it was a beautiful, touching thing to see - i am so happy for him!

[Starine]

I really love the posts in this thread.

[The Tin Man]

This victory is a cause for celebration. It just shows that an $11,000 colt with a famous lead pony and a neophyte jockey can experience the Cinderella story too.

Yeah ... This combo right here certainly makes for a wonderful story.

[Blue Jeans]

Cheers to Mario! Love reading about this young man ....

http://www.paulickreport.com/feature...rio-gutierrez/

[The Tin Man]

Cheers to Mario! Love reading about this young man ....

http://www.paulickreport.com/feature...rio-gutierrez/

Major kudos to Troy Taylor!

He brought Mario down to SoCal with a stable of horses of his to ride. For the first 2 or 3 months, pretty much the ONLY mounts Mario had were the ones that Troy brought with him.

Had it not been for Troy Taylor, it's pretty certain that Mario would have never come down here and because of Troy bringing his stable down here with Mario ... it enabled Mario to have some guaranteed mounts(pretty good ones too) and showcase his talent and be picked up by other trainers.

Had it not been for Troy and his actions, Mario wouldn't be where he is today. Taylor must be one helluva guy and must really love Mario to have done this for him.

[Blue Jeans]

Major kudos to Troy Taylor!

He brought Mario down to SoCal with a stable of horses of his to ride. For the first 2 or 3 months, pretty much the ONLY mounts Mario had were the ones that Troy brought with him.

Had it not been for Troy Taylor, it's pretty certain that Mario would have never come down here and because of Troy bringing his stable down here with Mario ... it enabled Mario to have some guaranteed mounts(pretty good ones too) and showcase his talent and be picked up by other trainers.

Had it not been for Troy and his actions, Mario wouldn't be where he is today. Taylor must be one helluva guy and must really love Mario to have done this for him.

So true. Mario seems to be most appreciative of the kindness and guidance he's received from "his American family". A genuine love story .... and appreciation.

[Sheeplechaser]

I love this kid...he's a doll...

[GotaDunQH]

It's really hard not to root for him.

Agree! I had this grin from ear to ear when they interviewed him on the way back to the winner's circle. There was some TRUE emotion right there from him...and it gave me goosebumps. It was heartfelt, genuine, humble and refreshing to see...not like the usual "varsity squad" of jocks than win a big one like this. Loved it.

[The Tin Man]

Another really nice article about Mario and his connection with the people at Hastings from DRF today ...

http://www.drf.com/news/2012-preakne...astings-sunday

[Commentator]

Just stumbled across his Twitter account- http://twitter.com/#!/mario_hastings

He's so adorable, it's almost criminal.

[Jumron]

Another really nice article about Mario and his connection with the people at Hastings from DRF today ...

http://www.drf.com/news/2012-preakne...astings-sunday

When Scott Hazelton of HRTV interviewed Mario a couple of days before the Derby, he asked him what the reaction of the people at Hastings Park would be if Mario won the Derby, and he said that some people there would be pretty excited, which from the DRF article sounded like an understatement.