Year of the Jockey

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Santa Anita Stakes Wins
Ancient Title BC H. (GI-OT)—Saratoga Gambler (GIII-1994)
California Breeders’ Champion (OT)—El Atroz (1993)
Cascapedia H. (OT)—D’or Ruckus (1992); Airistar (1995)
Las Flores H. (GIII)—Forest Fealty (1992)
Morvich H. (GII-OT)—Regal Groom (1992)
San Antonio H. (GII)—Spellbinder (2006)
San Gabriel H. (GII)—Truly a Judge (2005)
San Luis Obispo H. (GII)—Atlando (2006)
San Miguel—Mr. Cooperative (GIII-1994); Omega Code (GIII-2003)
San Simeon H. (GIII)—Exemplary Leader (1993)
Santa Anita H. (GI)—Martial Law (1989)
Santa Maria H. (GI)—Star Parade (2006)
Sunny Slope (OT)—Within Reason (2005)

Other Major Stakes Wins
A Gleam H. (GII-Hol)—Forest Fealty (1992)
Aprisa H. (Fpx)—The Morris Monroe (2001)
Bangles & Beads (Fpx)—Posadas (2002); Spring Meadow (2003)
Barretts Debutante (Fpx)—Danceoftheflags (2001)
Bayakoa H. (GII-Hol)—Star Parade (2005)
Beau Brummel (Fpx)—Meetyouatthebrig (2000); Run Brother Ron (2007)
Carry Back (GII-Crc)—Black Seventeen (2007)
Black Swan (Fpx)—Amber Hills (2002); Church Editor (2003)
CERF H. (Dmr)—Global (2001); Vikki’s Honor (2006)
Cinema BC H. (GIII-Hol)—Genre (2006)
Clement L. Hirsch H. (GII-Dmr)—Vieille Vigne (1991)
Cougar II H. (Dmr)—Atlando (2007)
CTBA (Dmr)—Fire Sale Queen (1999); Amber Hills (2003)
CTBA Marion (Fpx)—Drought Breaker (2004)
Del Mar Debutante (GI-Dmr)—Batroyale (1995)
Derby Trial (Fpx)—Plug Me In (2006)
E. B. Johnston (Fpx)—Eclipse De Luna (2003)
El Camino Real Derby (GIII-BM)—Cavonnier (1996)
Foothill (Fpx)—Primer Ruler (2007)
Gateway to Glory (Fpx)—The Wizard Rocks (2004)
Generous Portion (Dmr)—Prenuptial (2006)
Haggin (Hol)—Irrelevant (1998)
Hawthorne H. (GIII-Hol)—Star Parade (2006)
Honeymoon BC H. (GII-Hol)—Masake (1991)
Hutcheson (GII-GP)—Valid Wager (1995)
John C. Mabee H. (GI-Dmr)—Amorama (2005)
La Jolla H. (GII-Dmr)—Medici Code (2007)
Landaluce (Hol)—Garden Gal (1990); Fluttery Danseur (1991); Zealous Connection (1992); Pinata (2006)
Las Madrinas H. (Fpx)—Tale of a Dream (2004); Brooke’s Halo (2005)
Lazaro S. Barrera Memorial (GII-Hol)—Sea Cadet (ng-1991)
Live the Dream (Dmr)—Statement (2004)
Los Angeles H. (GIII-Hol)—Mr. Prime Minister (1983)
Moccasin (Hol)—Ifyoucouldseemenow (1990)
Native Diver H. (GIII-Hol)—Truly a Judge (2004)
NTRA (Hol)—Scandalous (2007)
On Trust H. (Hol)—Cheroot (2006)
Pepper Oaks Farm (Hol)—King of LA (2005)
Phil D. Shepherd (Fpx)—Hal’s Pal (2000); Verkade (2004); Maestro (2007)
Pio Pico (Fpx)—Warren’s Whistle (2002)
Pomona Derby (Fpx)—Ack Ack Heir (1986); Set On Cruise (1994); Semi Lost (2004); Dover Dere (2005); Sensational Score    (2006); Frank the Barber (2007)
Pomona H. (Fpx)—Regal Groom (1992)
Ron & Jessman Cloud Memorial (Fno)—Omega Code (2002)
San Francisco BC Mile (GII-GG)—Charmo (2006)
Sorority (Mth)—Fluttery Danseur (1991)
Spinaway (GI-Sar)—Miss Iron Smoke (1991)
Texas Mile (GIII-LS)—Bluesthestandard (2003)
Time To Leave (BM)—Hostility (2002)
Westchester (Hol)—Sea Twister (1998)

Highlights

• First Grade I win: Santa Anita Handicap aboard longshot Martial Law.
• Riding titles: Hollywood Park: 2005 fall; Orange County Fair: 1983; Fairplex: 1989-tie, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006.
• 2,000th career victory: on Sandra’s Pride at Santa Anita, Feb. 2, 2001.
• All-time leading rider at Fairplex Park. Set Fairplex Park single season record with 51 wins during 17-day 2004 meet. His mounts earned just over $1 million. He is the career leader at Fairplex with 516 victories and has won ten titles at the Pomona track, the last nine in a row.
• Leading apprentice at 1983 Santa Anita, Oak Tree and Los Alamitos meetings.
• Star Parade provided his first Grade I win at Santa Anita since the 1989 Santa Anita Handicap when capturing the $250,000 Santa Maria Handicap on Feb. 11, 2006. Other career Grade I victories include 2005 John C. Mabee Handicap (Amorama), 1995 Del Mar Debutante (Batroyale) and Saratoga’s 1991 Spinaway Stakes (Miss Iron Smoke).
• Most stunning career victory came in the 1989 Big ’Cap when he piloted 50-1 shot Martial Law to victory in $1-million event with a clocking of 1:58 4/5, second fastest in race history and surpassed only by Triple Crown winner Affirmed’s 1:58 3/5 in 1979.
• Captured first riding title at a major track in 2005 at the age of 40 when he topped the standings at Hollywood Park’s autumn meet. “This was just an overwhelming experience for me,” he commented.
• Won six consecutive races at Oak Tree on Oct. 31, 1992, Breeders' Cup Day. Equaled Santa Anita record set by Laffit Pincay Jr. in 1987.
• Won five races from six mounts on Nov. 4 at 2005 Oak Tree meeting. None of the five was favored.
• Won stakes at 10 different tracks in 1991.
  

Personal

• Alumnus of Panama jockey school, where he first sat on a horse at age 17. Migrated to the U.S. after winning three races in six months.
• Brother, Marcelino, also was a jockey.
• Missed two weeks of riding in September, 1993, when he suffered a lacerated liver and internal bleeding in a spill at Fairplex. It was his second serious spill that year. He broke his left arm in April.
• Cites Sea Cadet as the best horse he has ridden. Ifyoucouldseemenow and Straight To Bed are his sentimental favorites.