Pablo Morales Rides Five Winners For Second Saturday In A Row At Tampa

Don't let his looks deceive you; behind Pablo Morales's youthful appearance lurks a ruthless competitor.

“He looks so nice and polite,” said his agent, Paula Bacon, laughing because those are in fact two traits Morales possesses in abundance. “But he's actually a baby-faced sharpshooter in sheep's clothing.”

Bacon's metaphor hasn't been far off the last two Saturdays at Tampa Bay Downs. After riding five winners on Jan. 1, Morales did it again today, starting 4-for-4 before cooling off to go 5-for-8 with a second.

The performance gives Morales 23 victories at the meet, moving him into a tie for first with Antonio Gallardo. It is the third time Morales has won five races on a Tampa Bay Downs card.

“Unreal. That was awesome, what can I say?” said Morales. “I'm just as happy as I can be. This game is definitely weird, and we just have to stay after it every day. Things like this are what help me keep on going, no matter what.”

Bacon, a former jockey, said all the pieces are coming together for the 33-year-old Lima, Peru product to make a run at his first Tampa Bay Downs meet title. Morales has won seven titles at Presque Isle Downs, where he more than doubled the runner-up with 120 winners last season.

“He's been getting good mounts and he's making them count,” Bacon said. “He's riding incredibly well. He has a lot of natural physical ability, he picks things up right away and he is making smart decisions in his races.”

Bacon, who watched today's card at home, marveled at Morales's winning ride in the fifth race, a maiden claiming event at a mile on the turf for 3-year-old fillies. After keeping his mount, trainer Tim Hamm's gray filly Music Amore, in a stalking position early, Morales spotted an opening on the turn for home and steered Music Amore to the promised land, resulting in a length-and-a-half victory from Sign and Seal.

“He made a last-second decision to cut the corner turning for home, and I thought that was a really smart move,” Bacon said. “When he altered course to go inside, I thought that won the race for him.”

Morales's winning streak was halted in the seventh race on the turf, the Lambholm South Race of the Week, when he finished second aboard Pythoness by a half-length to Bleecker Street, a 4-year-old filly ridden by Hector Rafael Diaz, Jr., and trained by Chad Brown.

“Yeah, it took dang Chad Brown to get him,” Bacon said of the four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer.

Morales's first victory came in the second race on Daily Briefing, a 4-year-old filly owned by Curragh Stables and trained by John P. Terranova, II. She paid $8.40 to win as the second wagering choice. Morales won the third race on Bear Creek, a 5-year-old gelding owned by Mark Hoffman and trained by Dennis Ward. He paid $10.80 to win.

After sitting out the fourth and winning on 2-1 favorite Music Amore, Morales captured the sixth race on 5-2 favorite Curlin's Thrill, a 5-year-old gelding owned by Sabal Racing Stable and Patrick Rhodes and trained by Darien Rodriguez.

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The jockey's fifth victory came in the ninth race, a come-from-behind effort by 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding Cajun Casanova, owned by Monster Racing Stables and trained by Jose H. Delgado. Cajun Casanova paid $5.80 to win as the second betting choice. “That horse just ran huge today,” Morales said. “He has been running against tough horses, but when things go his way he is a monster. He liked to run and he gives it his all.”

Bacon, who has been retired as a jockey since 2002, looks forward to teaming with Morales throughout the season in hopes of challenging for the top spot.

“We still have to work our butts off to get anyplace,” she said. “This is a very deep jockey colony, but I know Pablo is going to keep to the task.”

Morales agrees with Bacon's assessment that he is physically and mentally capable of contending. “I'm in good shape and I'm healthy, and that's the main thing. I'm going to keep on working and wait for the right opportunities, and when I do get them, thank God I'm able to prove myself, because by proving myself to the trainers and owners they'll opt to ride me. Obviously, I can't do anything without their help,” he said.

“I'm extremely thankful to all the connections. I do this for myself, my family and the people who root for me. It can be sort of a roller coaster here, but days like this put me in the fight, and hopefully I'll get in a groove of staying more busy.”

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Jockey Paco Lopez Posts Five-Win Day Saturday At Gulfstream Park

Jockey Paco Lopez put the finishing touches on a five-win afternoon by guiding Patricia Generazio homebred Mid Day Image to a front-running 1 ¼-length triumph in the $95,000 Claiming Crown Emerald Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The 1 1/16-mile Emerald was the last of nine starter stakes worth $810,000 in purses on the 23rd Claiming Crown program, being held at Gulfstream for the 10th consecutive year. For 3-year-olds and up which have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2020-21, the Emerald was the last of four turf stakes.

Created by the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association in partnership with the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, the Claiming Crown rewards and pays tribute to the horses and horsemen that provide the foundation for day-to-day racing programs at tracks around the country.

Lopez, who shares the Gulfstream track record with seven wins on a single card, notched four of his wins in the Claiming Crown. He had consecutive victories with Joe Di Baggio ($6) in Race 2, Blue Steel ($9.40) in the $75,000 Iron Horse Kent Stirling Memorial, and Payntdembluesaway ($5.60) in the $90,000 Distaff Dash, and captured the $85,000 Rapid Transit with Miles Ahead ($4.60). He also finished second with Xy Speed in the $90,000 Canterbury and Hanalei's Houdini in the $125,000 Jewel, beaten less than two combined lengths.

“Not too bad a day. We had five wins and a couple seconds,” Lopez said. “My horses ran very well today.”

Mid Day Image entered the Emerald off back-to-back wins at Monmouth Parkin in Oceanport, N.J., the most recent coming Sept. 12, both in gate-to-wire fashion. The 5-year-old Midshipman gelding went straight to the lead from his rail post, posting fractions of :23.39, :47.73, and 1:11.22 chased by Clear Vision with 9-5 favorite Max K.O. looming in the clear in third.

Lopez and Mid Day Image maintained a clear advantage at the top of the stretch and continued on once set down for the drive, with Clear Vision unable to make up ground. Attentive came on late to get third, with Light Fury fourth and Max K.O. fifth. The winning time was 1:39.82 over a firm course.

“[Mid Day Image] has a lot of speed. Max K.O., I was scared of that horse because he's fast, too. I know that horse,” Lopez said. “I give credit to my horse. He's very, very good. He put me right there and [trainer Luis] Carvajal [Jr.] told me, 'Paco, that horse is ready today.'”

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Ageless Jockey Perry Ouzts Bags Five Winners Thursday At Belterra Park

Veteran reinsman Perry Ouzts defied the odds on Thursday at Belterra Park, winning with five of his seven mounts on the day. The wins included a natural hat trick in races two through four, and a late double in races six and seven.

Thursday's five wins came for five different trainers: Chris Hartman (Quiet Dawn, Race 2, $3.40); Susan Anderson (Drama Run, Race 3, $19.20); Doug Goodman (My Pal Dal, Race 4, $56.40); Robert Gorham (Northern Journey, Race 6, $2.60); and Barbara Riley (Aiken for Gold, Race 7, $4.00).

The 65-year-old jockey recently returned to the races in mid-May, following nearly a 10-month break to recover from surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff.

Ouzts' injury occurred last year on July 28 at Belterra, when his mount's bit broke and the bridle came apart. The horse was not injured, but Ouzts had to be taken off the course via ambulance, and an MRI later indicated the damage to his shoulder.

According to long-time agent and friend Jamie Fowler, the jockey didn't want to let an injury end his career; he wants to finish on his own terms.

It's hardly the first time the jockey has made the news for an injury. Perhaps the most memorable was in 2012, when Ouzts' “steel horse” was hit by a car at 65 miles per hour on I-275 outside of Cincinnati. Despite the motorcycle accident, Ouzts managed to arrive at what was then called River Downs in time to ride the entire card, even winning with his first two mounts of the day.

About five weeks after his return to the saddle, Ouzts' momentum is starting to pick up. He recorded doubles at Belterra on June 9, 10, and 24, and the five-win day this Thursday brings his overall total to 15 victories thus far in 2020.

He may turn 66 years old on July 7, but age is nothing but a number when you love what you do.

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