Claire Novak 14y

Meet Paul Atkinson

Horse Racing

There were only two questions for the average racing fan to ask last Saturday in the wake of Caracortado's upset victory under jockey Paul Atkinson in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes. First, how in the world did that happen? Second, who the heck is Paul Atkinson?

The first question may be answered by a review of the gelding's form for trainer Mike Machowsky, solid build-up to a shot at the Kentucky Derby trail. The second will be answered in this article — and, if Atkinson and Machowsky get their way, in victorious post-race interviews after this year's Run for the Roses.

Racing pundits recognize that Atkinson, a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, has been riding horses since he was knee-high. His wife Ami is an assistant horsemen's liaison at Santa Anita Park, has been for about 10 years. They have two young daughters, Makenzie (12) and Sarah (5), and they're all a respected part of the Southern California racing community, where Atkinson has done extensive work with the Jockey's Guild in the pursuit of reliable insurance and safer equipment and conditions for riders.

But that's not the nicest thing about the Atkinson story. The nicest thing is that Atkinson's recent success is all about a veteran rider getting his due. It's little guy makes good, a Facing the Giants-type of theme. And it's a reminder that all you need in this racing game is the right horse to take you places. Who doesn't love a story like that?

Let's start with the lead character, a kid who grew up out West on the bush tracks of Idaho and South Jordan, Utah. Naturally small, he started galloping horses when he was 15. His first event, in 1984, was a Quarter Horse race on the fair circuit aboard a runner named Hannell's Express. Of course, he won.

"I didn't really think I was ready," Atkinson recalled. "They kept telling me, 'Don't worry about it, you're ready, you're ready.' So then I was entered and I had no jock clothes, no saddle, no nothing. I wore blue jeans and cowboy boots and used an exercise saddle with an exercise pad, and all the other guys were in black boots and white pants and racing saddles … it was quite the experience."

Atkinson rode at the bush tracks until he was old enough to obtain his jockey's license — and some jockey clothes. His first pari-mutual race was at the now-defunct Wyoming Downs, but it wasn't long before an agent from the big city got wind of the talented country boy. Recruited to New York, he spent part of the winter at Belmont Park, working horses for Richard DeStasio.

"I didn't ride any races when I was there; I'd only ridden on the bush tracks and a few races at a recognized meet," he said. "I didn't figure I was ready yet, but I got on horses for the old man and I learned a lot from those guys, they helped me a lot. I got a little homesick so I went back home and rode that summer again at Wyoming and then I went back to school to finish high school, because I'd promised my mother I would graduate."

After high school Atkinson skipped around a little, hanging his tack at tracks in El Paso, Phoenix, Des Moin. He rode a little on the fair circuit in Northern California, didn't have much business, went back to Pheonix for the winter. In 1990, however, his focus began to narrow. Riding — and winning — at Fairplex for trainer Brian Webb, he met a lot of trainers from South Cal. Before he knew it, they were asking if he planned to stay.

"I didn't ever think I would set up base here," he said. "Sure, I thought it would be nice, but I didn't think I'd stay."

That all changed in 1991, when Jerry Ingordo approached the jockey about taking his book on the big-time circuit.

"I moved everything I owned in November of '91, and it was pretty tough," Atkinson recalled. "I'd win a couple races — not many — and I was struggling along there and figured I'd just go back up to Northern California that summer, but before the fairs started up there my business started picking up pretty good, so I went ahead and decided to stay."

Before long, business was rolling right along. Atkinson picked up some nice mounts, including multiple graded stakes winner Memo. In 1995 he went to Hong Kong to earn a close second in the Hong Kong International Cup aboard Ventiquattrofogli. But as is the case with many talented riders, he never found his way to the top of the standings. Even as recently as July of 2009 he was on the sidelines, nearing the end of a 10-month recuperation period for wear-and-tear on his right knee.

Then along came the big horse, a speedy handful of a 2-year-old bred and trained by Mike Machowsky. The first time Atkinson rode Caracortado in a morning breeze, the grandson of Storm Cat turned loose from the pony and went to bucking down the stretch. It was like the Cat Dreams gelding's little routine, one Atkinson sat out with ease. When they entered a maiden claiming race at Fairplex at the end of last September, Machowsky knew who he wanted in the saddle.

"He was coming back from some injuries and hadn't ridden in a while, so I figured I'd put him on one that would win when we ran him," the trainer said. "He'd helped out a lot just breezing horses, and I figured that horse when I ran him would win."

Caracortado, Spanish for "Scarface," did just that. And he did it again in November in a starter allowance at Hollywood Park, and in December in another Hollywood allowance, and two days after Christmas when they ran him in a California-bred stakes race at Santa Anita. Atkinson was aboard for each victory, including the most recent, when the 5-for-5 runner overcame promising Derby contenders like Tiz Chrome and American Lion to upset the Robert B. Lewis Stakes. By that time, Machowsky figured his jockey/horse combination was a good thing.

"I've known Paul for a long time now and he knows the horse, he doesn't get rattled, he rides in the pressure races and it's like he's riding in those kind of races all the time," he said. "Even though he's ridden sparingly in the past couple years, he's ridden this horse so well."
Add the fact that Machowsky has promised agent Tommy Ball that Atkinson will remain in the saddle should his runner reach Kentucky on the first Saturday in May, and you've got a nice little feel-good story on your hands.

"We've had people calling, trying to buy the whole horse," said the trainer, who owns Caracortado in partnership with Don Blahut. "The whole horse whole horse isn't for sale. We'd be interested in selling a part of the horse, sure, but one of the things we've stipulated is that he runs in Don's silks and Paul stays on him. We might not get an opportunity like this again, and Paul deserves the run."

"You know, Gary Stevens came up to me the other morning at Clocker's Corner," Machowsky added. "He said, 'Paul's got the ability above and beyond what it takes to get the job done if you're lucky enough to get there.' Years ago, no one could say who Stewart Elliott was, who Jeremy Rose was. That didn't keep those two from winning Classic races. Loyalty's gotta mean something in this game, I just believe that."

For now, the trio will focus on the March 13 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita, a stepping stone to the April 3 Santa Anita Derby en route to the ultimate goal — the May 1 Kentucky Derby. In the San Felipe, Caracortado will face 2-year-old Eclipse Award winning champ Lookin' at Lucky, trained by three-time Derby winner and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and ridden by two-time Eclipse Award winner Garrett Gomez. It'll be a stiff test, but Machowsky and Atkinson believe in their horse — and in each other.

"I have all the confidence in the world that he'll run as far as we need him to run," the trainer said. "He's got great tactical speed and I don't think we've gotten to the bottom of him; he's got all these gears, and all I feel like we need to do is keep him healthy."

"I'm excited," said Atkinson. "He's a nice little horse and he's a lot of fun, and if it works out that he goes to the Derby, that would be great. But if not, I'm enjoying him now as it is."

Claire Novak is an award-winning journalist whose coverage of the thoroughbred industry appears in a variety of outlets, including The Blood-Horse Magazine, The Albany Times Union and NTRA.com. She lives in Lexington, Ky.

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