Panamanian Alexander Chavez Rides First U.S. Winner At Laurel

Corrales Racing's Car Lady accelerated through an opening along the rail and sped off with a last-to-first victory in Saturday's opener at Laurel Park in Maryland, giving jockey Alexander Chavez his first win in the United States.

Bred by Andy Stronach and trained by owner Jose Corrales, Car Lady ($7) ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.22 over a fast main track to win the claiming event for older fillies and mares by 7 ¾ lengths, her second career victory.

Chavez, 22, had been riding at Presidente Remon racetrack in his native Panama before coming to the U.S. Car Lady, a 4-year-old daughter of Grade 1 winner Colonel John, was his first mount.

“It was a dream to be able to ride in the United States, and today the dream came true,” Chavez said through an interpreter. “It feels very good. I am very happy.”

Car Lady trailed the field through a half-mile, saving ground on both turns as Walk It Out Nanny posted splits of 24.40 and 49.49 seconds. Chavez stayed patient nearing the stretch and put Car Lady in cruise control as they opened up on their rivals once in the clear.

“The whole way around I felt like I could win the race,” Chavez said. “I had plenty of horse.”

In his only other mount Saturday, Chavez finished fourth on Corrales owned-and-trained Tatica, a 30-1 long shot, in Race 4, a 5 ½-furlong maiden claimer for 3-year-old fillies. He is named in three of nine races Sunday at Laurel, all for Corrales.

Chavez said he began riding horses at age 8 and was introduced to the track by a former jockey in Panama, ultimately attending its famed Laffit Pincay Jr. riding academy. An uncle at home was friends with fellow Panamanian Corrales, leading to their introduction.

“I was watching the races in Panama and loved Laurel Park, so I came directly here,” Chavez said. “Jose is the first trainer to help me here, but I would love to ride for everybody.”

“I love it here,” he added. “My dream is to stay here and do well.”

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Co-Owned By Andy Stronach, Manitoba Derby Winner Mongolian Wind Aims For Preakness Stakes

Co-owned by Andy Stronach and his breeder, Mongolian Stable, Mongolian Wind was a somewhat surprising 7-1 winner of Monday's $60,000 (US$44,763) Manitoba Derby at Canada's Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The 3-year-old gelded son of Mucho Macho Man was making just his third career start, following a maiden win at Los Alamitos for a $40,000 tag in his most recent start on June 28.

Mongolian Wind lead throughout Monday's nine-furlong contest to hold off challenger Mr. Unusual to win by a head. The final time was 1:54.00 over the fast main track, and the victory has Stronach thinking bigger stakes in the future for the Kentucky-bred.

“I want him to run him in the Preakness and I wanted to give him one more race. It's good for us, it's good for Manitoba, it's good for everybody,” Stronach told the Winnipeg Free Press. “My family owns the (Preakness) track and we want to support it. He's just learning how to run.”

Read more at the Winnipeg Free Press (behind paywall).

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