Jorge Ruiz Diaz won the Sheepshead Bay Stakes at Aqueduct with No Show Sammy Jo

The jockey achieved another graded victory, bolstering a season that continues to see him as a major protagonist

SOUTH OZONE PARK, New York (Special for Turf Diario).— A new milestone in Jorge Ruiz Diaz's outstanding campaign here took place this Friday on the Belmont at the Big A turf, where the Argentine rider gave a true masterclass in riding aboard No Show Sammy Jo to claim the Sheepshead Bay (G3), one of the central events of the New York card.

Defending the silks of Newstead Stables, the mare—who had been threatening a breakthrough of this magnitude after stringing together several close finishes at the stakes level—found in the hands of Ruiz Diaz the perfect ally to break the resistance of her rivals over the 2200 meters of the inner turf. Following closely in a race marked by a lack of initial speed, the professional moved at the exact right moment to take command and cross the wire with a 3/4-length advantage.

"There wasn't much speed in the race," Jorge Ruiz Diaz analyzed after weighing in. "I wanted a good position to get into a rhythm, and she responded very well. She’s a great mare. Since there was only one frontrunner, I waited for the right moment to launch her toward victory," added Jorge, who has managed to understand the daughter of Lope de Vegaperfectly, having ridden her in half of her total starts.

The race showed Storm Miami (Blue Point) in front with comfortable fractions of 25s71/100 and 52s04/100, while the Argentine positioned the favorite in an expectant fourth place, never losing sight of the group. Upon entering the final straight, when Victor Carrasco attempted to escape with the leader, Ruiz Diaz called upon his mount, who responded with an electrifying change of pace to dominate in the final 100 meters and stop the clock in 2m21s67/100.

Ian Wilson, assistant to trainer Graham Motion, spared no praise for the jockey's work: "Our biggest concern was the lack of frontrunners, but Jorge always kept her in the race. He gave her a masterful ride." Meanwhile, the team is already projecting the bay's future, mentioning the New York (G1) at Saratoga as the next top-level objective.

Born in Great Britain and sold at Tattersalls, No Show Sammy Jo improved her record to 7 victories in 16 outings, consolidating the great current form of Jorge Ruiz Diaz on the main stages of American turf, where he continues to demonstrate the enduring talent of the Argentine school of jockeys.