Parker, Garcia, Southwest Racing Win Indiana Grand Titles

DeShawn Parker, winner of 5,821 races and more than $74 million in earnings, captured his first leading jockey title at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino when the track wrapped up its 2020 racing season Thursday. The journeyman visited the Indiana Grand winner’s circle 106 times this year. Parker, who led the nation in wins in both 2010 and 2011, plans to spend the winter at Turfway Park.

“This is the best thing of the meet and of my year,” said Parker. “I had some chances the past couple of years to win [the title], but I got hurt and it just didn’t work out. My agent, Jimmy [McNerney], always does a good job but he did an exceptional job this year for me, and I was able to stay healthy. I can’t put into words what this means. This means so much to me.”

Trainer Genaro Garcia won 43 races and over $900,000 in purse earnings to take the training title, his fourth straight. Garcia and Steve Lewis’s Southwest Racing Stable got its second leading owner title with the close of the meet. In addition, apprentice rider Joshua Morales took the Juan Saez Leading Apprentice Award, named in honor of 2014 leading apprentice Juan Saez, who was killed in a racing incident that year.

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Apprentice Joshua Morales Wins Juan Saez Award At Indiana Grand

One year ago, apprentice jockey Joshua Morales was still in his native Puerto Rico, a recent graduate of the jockey school at Camarero Race Track near San Juan. Now, he has his first jockey title as he was named the recipient of the seventh annual Juan Saez Leading Apprentice Jockey. The award is named in honor of 2014 leading apprentice Juan Saez of Panama, who passed away in a racing incident that year.

“I am very happy and proud,” said Morales through his agent Francisco Torres. “I am thankful for the opportunity all the horsemen gave me this year. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be standing here right now.”

Morales began his professional riding career in Puerto Rico in January before moving to the United States and riding at Turfway Park. From there, he rode at Belterra for a few months before making the move to Indiana Grand in mid-September. Since his arrival, he has accumulated 21 wins and $375,000 in purses, moving him into a tie for 12th place in the jockey standings in 2020.

Morales got involved in racing through the encouragement of his two uncles, Wilfredo and Jose Rohena, who ride at Finger Lakes. He spent two years in jockey school learning the racing industry from the ground up, a commitment that brought him to the United States. His move to Indiana has also paired him with jock's agent Torres, who earned in excess of 3,100 career wins and multiple graded stakes victories during his 32-year career. Earlier in the season, Morales noted the connection with Torres has been extremely helpful as he continues to fine-tune his skills as a jockey.

Morales was joined by his partner, Chareen, and his two young sons, Owen, age four, and Harlan, 18 months, for the winner's circle presentation at Indiana Grand. He and Torres plan to head to Kentucky at the conclusion of the racing season in Indiana and will ride at Churchill Downs and Turfway Park until racing resumes in Indiana in 2021.

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Apprentice Morales Living Up To His Commitments At Indiana Grand

The 2020 season has brought challenges to those involved in racing. With COVID-19 regulations in place, Indiana Grand jockeys must only ride in Indiana, and those coming in must adhere to specific rules, including a 14-day quarantine. It's a commitment that Apprentice Jockey Joshua Morales didn't back down from.

A native of Puerto Rico, Morales knows all about commitment. He attended his country's Escuela Vocacional Hipica Agustin Mercado Reveron jockey school at Camarero Race Track near San Juan. Known for its rigorous curriculum that spans up to two years, Morales entered the school and graduated last August at the age of 19, ready to tackle the world of Thoroughbred racing.

“My two uncles (Wilfredo Rohena and Jose Rohena) are jockeys at Finger Lakes,” said Morales through his valet, Ramiro Torres. “I came to the United States a couple different times and worked as a hot walker at Finger Lakes, but I never had any plans to be a jockey. My friends influenced me because of my size and build. That's how I ended up going to jockey school.”

Morales began riding in Puerto Rico and in January, relocated to Turfway Park, which eventually took him to Belterra Park. Although he was riding a lot, his business wasn't taking him in the direction he wanted, so a suggestion from Nelson Figueroa, clerk of scales at Belterra, got him connected to agent Francisco Torres.

“Nelson and I go way back and a recommendation from him was all I needed,” said Torres. “I'm always shopping for another apprentice. I feel in this stage in my life, it's time to give back and working with these younger riders is what I like. He sure looks great on a horse and he has great hands. When he puts everything together, look out.”

Morales made the move to Indiana Grand and put in the mandatory time for the 14-day quarantine. During that time, Morales worked on an equicizer and Torres began to share some pointers for the apprentice, who turns 21 next week.

“Cisco has helped me out a lot,” said Morales. “Not only on the track but off the track, helping me find an apartment for my family and getting settled. He has corrected a few things already about my riding and helped me improve.”

Morales got out of the gate with a win on his very first day of competition at Indiana Grand, Sept. 7. Since that time, he has scored two riding doubles with seven wins total in only 10 days of racing. He and Torres are working on short term goals with hopes of opening some doors in the near future.

“The goal is to become leading apprentice here,” added Torres. “Then, he will either go to Turfway or possibly Oaklawn with me. We will just wait and see how it works out.”

Morales and his partner, Chareen, have two young sons, Owen, age four, and Harlan, 16 months. He also has support from his father, Javier, who is a former exercise rider. He is currently overseeing his son's start in racing.

“His two uncles wanted bigger and better things for him, so that is why he didn't go to Finger Lakes,” said Javier. “Jockey school was very good for him. It is very disciplined. The last semester, they have 20 races a day, 10 for a start of a race and 10 for a finish of a race. There were five that graduated from his class and four are now riding in the United States. He even had a personal trainer in school that helped him learn about keeping his weight down and keeping in shape.”

One of those graduates with Morales, Alex Crispin, competed at Indiana Grand in the first few weeks of competition this year before relocating to Delaware Park. Another from the same class includes Marielis Cosme currently riding at Mountaineer Park.

Racing is held Monday through Thursday until Wednesday, Nov. 18. All-Quarter Horse racing is set for Saturday, Oct. 3 and Saturday, Oct. 24. For more information, go to www.indianagrand.com.

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