Newtown Anner Stud Farm's Perpetrate emerged from a three-way photo finish a head in front of Hard Sting to give jockey Carol Cedeno her 1,000th career victory Saturday at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.
A New York-bred son of Distorted Humor racing for the first time for trainer Miguel Vera, Perpetrate ($9.60) ran one mile in 1:39.59 over a muddy and sealed main track in the claiming event for 4-year-olds and up for her second win in six lifetime starts.
Earlier on Saturday's program, the 31-year-old Cedeno finished second by a neck as the favorite aboard Kieron Magee owned-and-trained Halfinthewrapper in Race 2, a 5 ½-furlong claiming sprint.
“I'm so happy because not too many girls from Puerto Rico come here and do good,” Cedeno said. “When I came to the U.S., everybody gave me a hand and I appreciate that. Everybody helped me, the trainers and owners. Everybody was happy with my job and they keep helping me. Thank God I'm doing good.”
Cedeno had limited exposure to horses growing up in Puerto Rico before attending jockey school, coming to the U.S. shortly after graduating at the age of 18. She rode five winners at El Commandante – renamed Hipodromo Camarero in 2007 – prior to her arrival, making her mainland debut April 9, 2007, at Philadelphia Park.
It was at Philadelphia Park April 24, 2007, where Cedeno registered her first career victory aboard Coco's Gold, a 4-year-old filly trained by Keith LeBarron. Cedeno finished her rookie season with 120 wins from 989 mounts, both career highs.
The mother of two children, ages 11 and 8, Cedeno has made the occasional return to ride in Puerto Rico, as recently as last March, when she won aboard New Year Express at Camarero.
“I know they are watching me. It's hard because I want to spend more time with my kids,” Cedeno said. “My mom, she helps me. They're getting big and they ask me all the time to be with them, and I try to do my best.”
Cedeno settled Perpetrate between horses in the backstretch as Classy Solution and Company Clown battled for the lead through splits of 24.16 and 47.70 seconds. Perpetrate began moving up on the far turn and straightened for home with work to do, but came with a steady run through traffic to edge Hard Sting along the rail and Martini Lane on her outside for the win.
Jockey Julian Pimentel, aboard sixth-place finisher Lasting Image, lodged an objection against Perpetrate for interference in the stretch, but the claim was dismissed following a stewards' inquiry.
A multiple graded-stakes placed jockey, Cedeno set a career high with $2,818,981 in purse earnings in 2020, reaching triple digits in wins for the fourth time (112), all in the last five years. She finished tied for fifth at Laurel's truncated winter meet with 19 wins from 83 mounts.
Cedeno is a six-time leading rider at Delaware Park, tying Michael McCarthy – father of five-time Maryland riding champion Trevor McCarthy – for the most in track history. She has finished first in 2014, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020, ranking second in 2017.
On July 11, 2018, Cedeno set a Delaware Park record with seven winners on a 10-race card. The previous mark had stood for more than six decades and was shared by six previous riders.
Among the best horses Cedeno has ridden are 2019 First State Dash winner Golden Candy, multiple stakes winner Speechifying, 2009 Violet (G2) runner-up Always for Love and stakes-placed Maryland-bred Dancer's Melody.
“Just working hard, never give up,” Cedeno said of the secret to her success. “Sometimes you have bad moments. Never give up, just keep working hard and coming back.”
Notes: Five-pound apprentice Alexander Crispin tripled Saturday aboard Paisley Singing ($16) in Race 2, Blue Sky Painter ($6.40) in Race 6 and Feature Act ($8.40) in Race 7 … Bruno Mathias' 3-year-old Empire Maker colt Eric's Empire ($19.40), winless in four starts at 2, sprung an 8-1 upset of Saturday's opener, a one-mile maiden special weight for sophomores. The winning time was 1:41.30 … There will be carryovers of $1,700.18 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (Races 4-9) and $537.34 in the $1 Super Hi-5 (Race 1) for Sunday's nine-race program that begins at 12:25 p.m. Tickets with four of six winners in Saturday's Rainbow 6 returned $191.56.
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