Chantal Sutherland ‘In a Zone’ at Gulfstream Park
At 0h02, on November 11, 2021 • By GULFSTREAM
Chantal Sutherland is riding a streak of five consecutive multi-win days at Gulfstream Park while continuing her inspired resurgence by climbing into second place in the jockey standings for the fall meeting.
“I feel like I am in a zone. I’m super-happy. When you have a lot of experience, you go to bed early, take care of your body,” the 46-year-old jockey who launched her career in her native Canada in 2000. “I live an actual boring life, other than racing. I’m so focused on racing. I’m so happy here. I’m in a good place.”
The multiple Grade 1 stakes-winning jockey with nearly 1150 career victories, has ridden 12 winners over the past five racing days at Gulfstream, including a pair of three-win days and three days with two winners.
Sutherland’s winning mounts have produced a $12.30 average win payoff, by far the highest average in the Top 10 standings.
Sutherland, who had a four-win day Oct. 24, returned to Gulfstream after a long absence to ride full time during the Spring/Summer Meet, during which finished seventh with 46 winners. With her double on Sunday, Sutherland pulled into second place in the jockey standings with 22 winners, good for second behind perennial leader Edgard Zayas’ 30 victories.
“I feel more into it. I’m watching the races, studying my replays. I’m so much more present to everyone and everything,” Sutherland said. “I’m trying to learn Spanish as fast as I can. Communication is everything. If a trainer can feel like they can communicate with me, they’ll feel like I’m listening and giving 150 percent. I know how hard they work.”
Sutherland has ridden more winners in 2021 than in any year since 2010 while developing a rabid fan base at Gulfstream Park, where she is routinely greeted back to the winner’s circle with cheers and applause and where she graciously grants fan requests for photos and selfies on her way back to the jockey’s room.
“I’m just so grateful and proud,” Sutherland said. “It’s so good to see everyone happy in racing. I love it here.”
