Rios gets on the board with first win

Jesus Rios, 26-year-old jockey from Puerto Rico, scored his first career victory at Santa Anita on Thursday when he rode 24-1 long shot Seven Below to a victory in the sixth race. The horse returned $51.20. Rios is represented by Tony Matos, who has been the agent for many top Southland jockeys over the years, including the legendary Laffit Pincay, Jr.

The jockey race has turned into a three-way free-for-all between leader Rafael Bejarano (31 wins), who's shooting for his sixth consecutive SoCal riding title, and Joel Rosario (30) and Garrett Gomez (29). I think that's going to be a battle we're all going to want to watch the rest of the way. My money is still on Bejarano.

There's a $155,407 pick six carryover Friday -- the fifth Free Friday's program of the 84-day meet. So far they've been well-received.