Last Friday at Los Alamitos, jockey David Cohen returned from a two-month layoff to win a $12,500 claimer for maidens on Angi’s Typsy.
Cohen had not ridden since April 20 at Hawthorne, the same day Angi’s Typsy had her last start.
“I saw that, and thought, 'huh,' ” Cohen said of the coincidence. “It might be meant to be.”
The win was the first for the well-traveled Cohen in California since 2007. He has ridden extensively across the country in the last 18 years, winning riding titles at Delaware Park, Oaklawn Park, and Parx Racing. He was among the leading riders for several years at the Aqueduct winter meetings.
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Cohen, 40, said he took a break from riding earlier this year to spend time with his mother and visit friends whose homes were affected by the devastating January fires that struck Altadena, Calif., not far from Santa Anita.
“I have some close friends and family that were very affected by the fires,” he said. “I thought I’ll go out and help some people. I haven’t been able to do that for 20 years.”
Cohen, the son of the late owner and breeder Morry Cohen, began his career in California in 2004. The winner of 1,733 races in the United States, Cohen plans to ride at the Del Mar summer meeting, which begins on July 18. Cohen has not ridden at Del Mar on a regular basis since 2007.
The current Los Alamitos meeting, which runs through July 6, provides Cohen with a chance to ride a few races and work extensively in the mornings at Santa Anita before the circuit migrates to Del Mar.
In his career, Cohen has won such notables races as the Group 1, $2 million Golden Shaheen Stakes for sprinters in Dubai with Proud Tower Too in 2006, and the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga in 2012.
On Friday at Los Alamitos, Cohen has one mount, riding American Empire the seventh race for trainer Val Brinkerhoff.
“I came here for Del Mar,” he said. “I’m here to put in some work and get my face in the scene. I want to show that I’m still riding, obviously.”
The homecoming to California, of sorts, has kept Cohen busy. Last weekend, he said he rode workouts for several notable stables on the circuit.
“It’s been receptive,” he said. “I know everybody here.”
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