Hmmm, Alex Solis in decline, huh? For the past couple of years, many in the industry have talked about the 43-year-old jockey being a shadow of his former self. Some have even gone so far as refuse to bet the native of Panama. Well, I seem to remember a day not so long ago they were saying the same things about a guy named Laffit Pincay, Jr., who then proceeded to find his second wind and end a scintillating career on a high note before being forced to retire because of injury.
Solis is showing signs of staging the same type of career revival if the past week is any indication. Since last Saturday, he’s won 10 races after scoring a riding triple Saturday to hike his meet total to 20 victories — fifth in the jockey standings and only one win behind fourth-place Tyler Baze. Solis has scored on favorites, he’s scored on long shots (he’s won on 23-1 and 22-1 outsiders for trainer Jerry Fanning since Monday), he’s won while closing on the inside, he’s won while closing on the outside and he’s won on or from off the pace. In short, right now, Alex Solis is riding as well as he ever has. So much for the naysayers who had this guy buried and gone. Just shows when a rider the caliber of Alex Solis is getting live mounts, he knows what to do with them. I’ve never been reluctant to put my money on the guy, and he deserves to be voted into the Hall of Fame this year.
