Jockey Tiago Pereira expected to be riding at Oaklawn Park this winter, same as a year ago. That was the plan anyway until his 6-year-old daughter, Valentina, offered her own thoughts on the matter.
“She was so mad,” said Pereira, a 46-year-old native of Brazil. “She was crying and told me, 'Dad, don't go to Oaklawn.' My daughter is the most important thing in my life. So I said 'OK, I won't go for you.' I'm glad she spoke up.”
Equally glad Pereira didn't leave for Hot Spring, Ark. are Santa Anita horsemen and bettors.
Despite having only limited opportunities at Santa Anita's Classic Meet so far, Pereira entered Sunday's action ranked fourth in the jockey's standings thanks to a robust 31 percent win rate (11-for-35). Last year at Oaklawn Park, which race exclusively on dirt, Pereira finished 19th in the jockey's race while winning at a 13 percent clip.
“It is much better, this meet has been good to me,” Pereira said. “Not too many opportunities, but good horses. Hopefully I can keep it going.”
Prior to his foray to Oaklawn Park last year, Pereira had spent the winters at Santa Anita following his arrival from Brazil in 2014.
In his native country, Pereira was a standout rider who parlayed his success there into a victory in the 2010 Dubai World Cup (G1), a $10-million race, aboard Brazilian-bred Gloria de Campeao for trainer Pascal Bary. In 2021, Pereira won his first and only U.S. Grade 1 aboard Tripoli for John Sadler in the Pacific Classic.
Agent Derek Lawson has represented Pereira since last summer. He noted Pereira's recent run of success has him “confident that he can compete here.
“We always knew he could. I mean, this is a guy that won a $10-million race and a $1-million Pacific Classic,” Lawson added. “Obviously you have to have some talent to be able to do that.”
Trainer Steve Knapp has been on a tear of his own at the Classic Meet. He has been among Pereira's biggest supporters. Of the jockey's 11 wins at the meet, six have been for Knapp.
“Every time I put him on a horse he gives me 100 percent effort and that's what I'm looking for,” Knapp said. “Somebody that will try for fourth, third, or second if you're not going to win. That does mean something to owners when they get a piece of it.”
As for Pereira, he's hoping the fast start will lead to more business as the Classic Meet progresses.
“I don't ride too many, but the stables I do ride for have given me good horses with good chances. I just try my best and the horses have been responding,” Pereira said. “Hopefully, if I keep going good, it will open more doors for me.”
Lawson sees him as being well on his way.
“He's never really been in this position where he's winning races in bunches. It's great to see,” Lawson said. “But the most important thing is he's just an uncomplicated guy that works hard. He trusts what you're doing.”
The post ‘He’s Just An Uncomplicated Guy That Works Hard’: Pereira Making The Most Of Opportunities At Santa Anita appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
