- Birthdate: May 23, 1972
- Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico
- Height: 5’2”
- Weight: 112 pounds
- Single
- Residence: Arcadia
|
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.
|