Juvenal Diaz, Sportsman`s leading rider, was expected to ride Harham`s Sizzler in Saturday`s 1 1/8-mile National Jockey Club Handicap, the first graded (Grade III) thoroughbred stakes of the season in Chicago. But Diaz will be aboard Magic North, Illinois` 1985 Horse of the Year.
That decision doesn`t sit well with Mickey Goldfine, Harham`s Sizzler`s trainer.
When you`re racing for a $100,000-added purse, few changes can be considered laughing matters. ”My father (trainer Lou Goldfine) has always told me, `Never make anyone ride for you if they don`t want to,` ” said Goldfine. ”Rick Evans will ride Harham on Saturday.”
Diaz said his agent, Barry Janks, made the call to Rickey Harris, Magic North`s trainer.
”My agent thinks this other horse (Magic North) is really good,” said Diaz. ”I really like the other horse, but my agent thinks Magic North may run here some more.”
If Diaz had stayed on Harham`s Sizzler, Evans would have ridden Tuner Jr., a winner in nine of 17 races in 1985 who has finished out of the money in four 1986 tries.
