Year of the Jockey

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Triple Crown Wins
Kentucky Derby (GI-CD)—War Emblem (2002)
Preakness (GI-Pim)—War Emblem (2002)

Breeders’ Cup Win
Distaff (GI-CD)—Spain (1998)

Santa Anita Stakes Wins
Anoakia (OT)—Golden Doc A (2007)
Blue Norther—Major Idea (2003)
Buena Vista H. (GII)—Final Destination (2003); Silver Cup (2006)
California Breeders’ Champion (Colts)—Proud Tower (2000); Da Stoops (2005)
California Breeders’ Champion (Fillies)—Sierra Sweetie (2005)
California Cup Classic H. (OT)—Tizbud (2003); Texcess (2006)
California Cup Distaff H. (OT)—Tempting Date (2005)
California Cup Juvenile (OT)—Proud Tower (2000); He’s The Rage (2003)
California Cup Matron H. (OT)—Somethinaboutlaura (2006)
California Cup Mile H. (OT)—Turkish Prize (2002)
California Cup Sprint H. (OT)—Green Team (2003); Da Stoops (2006)
California Cup Starter H. (OT)—Fade to Blue (2003)
California Sire (OT)—Sharper Too (2001)
California Sire (Fillies) (OT)—Jetin Excess (2000)
Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship (GI-OT)—The Tin Man (2006)
Crystal Water H.—Road to Slew (2000)
El Encino (GII)—Girl Warrior (2005)
Flower Girl H.—Maryfield (2006)
Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (GI)—Commitisize (GII-2000)
Harold Ramser Sr. H. (OT)—Sentimental Value (2002-2nd div.)
Hidden Light (OT)—Hucking Hot (2006)
Hill Rise—Peace Rules (2003)
Kalookan Queen H.—Western Hemisphere (2006)
La Brea (GI)—Spain (2000)
La Cañada (GII)—Spain (2001); Balance (2007)
Lady’s Secret BC H. (GII-OT)—Healthy Addiction (2006); Tough Tiz’s Sis (GI-2007)
La Puente—Purely Cozzene (2000); Mountain Rage (2002); Steelaninch (2003)
La Zanzara H.—Aubonne (2006); Solva (2007)
Las Flores H. (GIII)—Behaving Badly (2006)
Las Virgenes (GI)—Balance (2006)
Norfolk (GII-OT)—Flame Thrower (2000); Kafwain (2002)
Pine Tree Lane (OT)—Resplendency (2005)
Pinjara (OT)—Stratham (2005)
Robert B. Lewis (GII)—Declan’s Moon (2005)
San Felipe (GII)—Cobalt Blue (2007)
San Gorgonio H. (GII)—Silver Cup (2006)
San Juan Capistrano H. (GII)—On the Acorn (2007)
San Luis Obispo H. (GII)—Puerto Banus (2004)
San Marcos H. (GII)—The Tin Man (2006)
San Miguel (GIII)—Popular (2002)
San Pasqual H. (GII)—Star Cross (2004)
San Rafael (GII)—Imperialism (2004)
Santa Ana H. (GII)—Spanish Fern (2000); Silver Cup (2006)
Santa Anita H. (GI)—Southern Image (2004)
Santa Margarita H. (GI)—Balance (2007)
Santa Maria H. (GI)—Star Parade (2004)
Santa Monica H. (GI)—Behaving Badly (2006)
Santa Paula (GIII)—Buffythecenterfold (2003); No Bull Baby (2005)
San Vicente (GII)—Kafwain (2003); Imperialism (2004)
Sen. Ken Maddy H. (GIII-OT)—Belleski (2003)
Sham (GIII)—Wild and Wise (2001); Going Wild (2005); Bob and John (2006)
Some Sensation—Major Idea (2003)
Southern Truce—De Puntillas (1998)
Sunny Slope (OT)—Joopy Doopy (1999); Seattle’s Best Joe (2004)
Sunshine Millions Dash—Da Stoops (2006)
Sunshine Million Classic—Southern Image (2004)
Survive—Phaenna (2002)
Tapestry—El Mirage Queen (2006)
Thunder Road—Singletary (2004); Senor Swinger (2006)
Tokyo City H. (GIII)—Supah Blitz (2005)
Wishing Well H.—Attima (2007)
Zany Tactics—Officer (2002)

Other Major Stakes Wins
A Gleam H. (GII-Hol)— Cee’s Elegance (2003); Somethinaboutlaura (2006);
Somethinaboutlaura (2007)
Ack Ack H. (GIII-Hol)—El Roblar (2007)
Adoration (Dmr)—Healthy Addiction (2005)
Affirmed H. (GIII-Hol)—Tiznow (2000); Boomzeeboom (2004);
Point Determined (2006)
American H. (GII-Hol)—The Tin Man (2006)
Arlington Matron (GIII-AP)—Adoration (2004)
Arlington Million (GI-AP)—The Tin Man (2006)
Barretts (Hol)—Trail Mix (2005)
Bay Meadows BC H. (GIII-BM)—Kirkwall (1999)
Bay Shore (GIII-Aqu)—Skip to the Stone (2001)
Bayakoa H. (GIII-Hol)—Star Parade (2003); Hollywood Story (2004);
Foxysox (2006)
Best Pal (GII-Dmr)—Officer (GIII-2001); Kafwain (GIII-2002); What a Song (2005)
Beverly Hills H. (GII-Hol)—Memorette (2006)
Bien Bien (Hol)—Porto Santo (2006)
Bing Crosby BC H. (GI-Dmr)—Disturbingthepeace (GII-2002)
Breeders’ Futurity (GI-Kee)—Great Hunter (2006)
B. Thoughtful (Hol)—Favorite Funtime (2002); Somethinaboutlaura (2007)
CashCall Mile (GIII-Hol)—Dance in the Mood (2006)
Cat’s Cradle (Hol)—Favorite Funtime (2001); Cee’s Elegance (2002);
Valentine Dancer (2003)
Champagne (GI-Bel)—Officer (2001)
Cinema BC H. (GIII-Hol)—David Copperfield (2000); Worldly (2007)
Clement L. Hirsch H. (GII-Dmr)—Healthy Addiction (2006)
Dahlia H. (GII-Hol)—Follow The Money (2000)
Daisycutter (Dmr)—Red Diadem (2007)
Del Mar BC H. (GII-Dmr)—El Corredor (2000, 2001); Supah Blitz (2004)
Del Mar Debutante (GI-Dmr)—Sweet Catomine (2004); Point Ashley (2006)
Del Mar Derby (GII-Dmr)—Blackdoun (2004)
Del Mar Futurity (GII-Dmr)—Officer (2001); Declan’s Moon (2004);
Horse Greeley (2006)
Del Mar Oaks (GI-Dmr)—No Matter What (2000)
Delaware H. (GII-Del)—Summer Wind Dancer (2004)
Delta Jackpot (DeD)—Texcess (2004)
Eddie Read H. (GI-Dmr)—Special Ring (2004)
El Cajon H. (GIII-Dmr)—Spicy Stuff (2000); Follow the Rainbow (2005)
Fleur de Lis H. (GII-CD)—Saudi Poetry (GIII-2001); Adoration (2004)
Fran’s Valentine (Hol)—Smokin Charlotte (2002)
Gamely BC (GI-Hol)—Shining Energy (2006)
Generous (GIII-Hol)—Peace Rules (2002)
Generous Portion (Dmr)—Golden Doc A (2007)
Graduation (Dmr)—Officer (2001); Spot the Diplomat (2006)
Harry Henson (Hol)—Hurry Home Warren (2007)
Haskell Invitational H. (GI-Mth)—War Emblem (2002)
Hawthorne Derby (GIII-Haw)—Flying Dash (2002)
Hawthorne Gold Cup (GII-Haw)—Super Frolic (2005)
Hawthorne H. (GIII-Hol)—Summer Wind Dancer (2004); Hollywood Story (2005)
Hollywood BC Oaks (GII-Hol)—Brooke’s Halo (2005)
Hollywood Futurity (GI-Hol)—Declan’s Moon (2004)
Hollywood Gold Cup (GI-Hol)—Early Pioneer (2000)
Hollywood Juvenile Champ (GIII-Hol)—What a Song (2005)
Hollywood Prevue (GIII-Hol)—Proud Tower (2000); Declan’s Moon (2004)
Hollywood Starlet (GI-Hol)—Habibti (2001)
Hollywood Turf Express H. (GIII-Hol)—Mr. Doubledown (1999)
Honeymoon BC H. (GII-Hol)—Lovely Rafaela (2004); Attima (2006)
I’m Smokin (Dmr)—Spot the Diplomat (2006)
Inglewood H. (GIII-Hol)—Montemiro (2000); Night Patrol (2002)
Jim Murray Memorial H. (GII-Hol)—On the Acorn (2007)
Kentucky Cup Turf Sprint (GIII-TP)—GH’s Pleasure (1998)
Lone Star Derby (LS)—Wanna Runner (2006)
Melair (Hol)—Tiz Elemental (2007)
Mervyn Leroy H. (Hol)—Molengao (2007)
Milady BC H. (GII-Hol)—Lazy Slusan (GI-2001); Star Parade (GI-2004)
Oceanside (Dmr)—Stormy Jack (2000-2nd div.); Vauquelin (2007-3rd div.)
Pat O’Brien H. (GII-Dmr)—El Corredor (2001); Disturbingthepeace (2002, 2003);
Imperialism (2005); Greg’s Gold (2007)
Perryville (GIII-Kee)—Midnight Lute (2006)
Pimlico Special H. (GI-Pim)—Southern Image (2004)
Pirate’s Bounty H. (Dmr—Areyoutalkintome(2006)
Pomona Derby (Fpx)—Opine (1998)
Rancho Bernardo H. (GIII-Dmr)—Behaving Badly (2005, 2006)
Redondo Beach (Hol)—Somethinaboutlaura (2007)
San Clemente H. (GII-Dmr)—Sweet Win (2004); Attima (2006)
San Diego H. (GII-Dmr)—Taste of Paradise (2003); Choctaw Nation (2004, 2005)
Senorita (GIII-Hol)—Makeup Artist (2003)
Sharp Cat (Hol)—Balance (2005)
Shoemaker BC Mile (GI-Hol)—The Tin Man (2007)
Silky Sullivan H. (GIII-GG)—Eastern Sand (2005)
Snow Chief (Hol)—Vote Of Honesty (1997); Da Stoops (2006)
Sorrento (GIII-Dmr)—Untouched Talent (2006)
Sunset H. (GII-Hol)—Puerto Banus (2003); Always First (2005)
Shadwell Keeneland Turf Mile H. (GI-Kee)—Kirkwall (GII-1999)
Tiznow (Hol)—Beau Soleil (2004); No Reason (2006)
Triple Bend BC H. (GI-Hol)—Elaborate (GII-2000); Disturbingthepeace (GII-2002); Pohave (2004)
Torrey Pines (Dmr)—Pussycat Doll (2005); Political Web (2006)
Will Rogers (GIII-Hol)—Purely Cozzene (2000); Private Chief (2003);
Worldly (2007)
Willard L. Proctor Memorial H. (Hol)—Alpenfest (2003)
WinStar Distaff H. (GIII-LS)—Mumtax (2000)
WinStar Derby (Sun)—Wanna Runner (2006)
WinStar Sunland Park Oaks (Sun)—Sweet Fourty (2006); Tough Tiz’s Sis (2007)
Wood Memorial (GI-Aqu)—Congaree (GII-2001)
Yerba Buena H. (GIII-GG)—De Puntillas (1997)

Highlights

• First winner: Came at Hippodromo de las Americas in Mexico City in 1992.
• First graded stakes victory: Aboard Commitisize in Arcadia Handicap (GII), at Santa Anita on March 5, 2000.
• Riding titles: Santa Anita (2003-04; 2006-07 tie); Hollywood Park (2000 spring/ summer, 2006 spring/summer); Del Mar (2000, 2006).
• 2,000th career victory: Aboard Fear No Darkness at Santa Anita on March 19, 2006.Nineteen days prior to 30th birthday, captured the 2002 Kentucky Derby by four lengths aboard 20-1 outsider War Emblem and added the Preakness two weeks later before Triple Crown chances were compromised by War Emblem’s stumbling start in the Belmont Stakes when finishing eighth. Had ridden in first Kentucky Derby the previous year, finishing third aboard Congaree.
• Another dramatic outsider, 55-1 longshot Spain, provided first Breeders’ Cup triumph in the 2000 Distaff at Churchill Downs during a breakthrough year when the Mexico City native vaulted into seventh place nationally with earnings of $13.2 million after his mounts had earned $3.7 million the previous year.
• Broke the Del Mar record for most wins on a single day when riding seven winners on Sept. 4, 2006. Previous record of six had been shared by Rudy Rosales, Bill Shoemaker and Laffit Pincay Jr. (twice). After winning the final race on Sept. 3, captured the day’s first six races on Sept. 4 to tie the Del Mar record Shoemaker had set 52 years previous of seven consecutive riding victories. Concluded his seven-win day by taking the grade I Del Mar Debutante aboard Point Ashley. With 64 wins in seven weeks, won his second consecutive Del Mar riding title while nearly doubling the 35-win total of runner-up Martin Garcia.
• Gained his first two major Southern California riding titles in 2000 with 62 victories at Hollywood Park’s spring/summer meet and 51 wins at Del Mar. Won first Santa Anita riding title with 89 winners during 2003-04 meet.
• Exceeded his 2004 earnings total in 2006 when mounts banked $16.1 million to again rank third in North America as he won 30 graded stakes races including eight in Grade I events. Among his Grade I winners was The Tin Man, who took the Arlington Million and Oak Tree’s Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship. The pair added Hollywood Park’s Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile in 2007.
• Realized peak earnings year in 2004 when ranked third nationally as horses earned $15.9 million. Wins included nine Grade I events among 27 graded stakes. Rode the winners of a pair of million-dollar races: Southern Image in Santa Anita’s Sunshine Millions Classic and Texcess in Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs. Southern Image provided first Santa Anita Handicap victory that year.
• Won four races at Oak Tree on California Cup Day 2003: Fade to Blue (Starter); Green Team (Sprint); He’s The Rage (Juvenile); and Tizbud (Classic).
• Leading apprentice rider at Bay Meadows, 1993-94. Leading apprentice at 1994 Golden Gate meet with 31 winners.First $1-million winner was 24-1 outsider Early Pioneer in 2000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 9, 2000.

Personal

• Early riding education came on farm outside Mexico City after completing high school.
• Drove a bus before becoming a jockey. “It’s a lot easier riding horses than driving in that traffic in Mexico City,” he said.
• Started riding at Hippodromo de las Americas in December 1992. Won 79 races in four months during two stints there.
• As recently as 1998 was so little known locally that was denied admission at Hollywood Park’s pass gate on Hollywood Gold Cup Day when didn’t have a mount before finding a security guard who recognized him.
• Was so confident of winning the 2000 Hollywood Gold Cup that he dyed his black hair yellow-gold prior to riding 24-1 longshot Early Pioneer, who defeated favored General Challenge by one length and returned $51.
• Following Spain’s $113.80 payoff in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, owner Prince Ahmed bin Salman, of the Thoroughbred Corp., said, “I chose this jockey. I read a lot and Espinoza was a 17th century philosopher. So this guy (Victor) has a good pedigree.”
• Two brothers, Jose and Leo, are jockeys. Jose Espinoza is a regular on the New York circuit.