‘Horses Can Help You Forget A Lot Of Bad Things’: Juan Arriagada Accepts Ups And Downs In Equal Measure

Juan Arriagada experienced personal and professional heartbreak in the days leading to last month's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar.

On Oct. 26, the trainer's mother, Erna, died at home in Lima, Peru after an extended illness. After wrestling with his options, Arriagada, who had been stabled at Delaware Park, elected to travel to southern California to saddle his 4-year-old Estilo Talentoso for the $1-million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 6.

“In life, we have to do what we have to do,” said Arriagada at the time. “The owners trust me with their horse, and I feel like I have to do it. I'm a professional, and I have to do my job.”

Arriagada believed he would feel his mother's presence the day of the race, but his hopes took a cruel turn when he was forced to scratch Estilo Talentoso early in the week because of an issue with her right foreleg. A few days later, she was sold to Japanese interests at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in Lexington, Ky.

“I'm not the type of trainer who has 20 stakes horses in his barn,” Arriagada said earlier this week of his Breeders' Cup disappointment. “When something like that happens, it's pretty hard. But everybody in our sport has ups and downs. If you want good things to happen, you have to keep working hard.”

Returning to the embrace of his wife Alison, a former trainer, and their 3-year-old daughter Tezza picked up his spirits. So did the chance to work with his other horses on the Tampa Bay Downs backstretch in preparation for the current Oldsmar meeting.

And, a quick start that resulted in six victories, three seconds and three thirds from his first 18 starters didn't hurt a bit, either.

“It's like the best therapy there is,” said Arriagada, honored as the Salt Rock Tavern Trainer of the Month. “Horses can help you forget a lot of bad things. It's good working with them, and it's much better when you do well.”

Of course, Arriagada will always have a soft spot in his heart for Estilo Talentoso. He purchased the daughter of Maclean's Music-Bazinga Baby, by Afleet Alex, for $15,000 at the 2019 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June Two-Year-Olds & Horses of Racing Age Sale. With Arriagada as her owner and trainer, she finished second in her first four starts – three at Tampa Bay Downs – before breaking her maiden in June of 2020 at Gulfstream Park.

Estilo Talentoso won the one-mile Escena Stakes at Gulfstream on Aug. 30, earning a vacation. She returned last January to finish third here in the Wayward Lass Stakes, launching a year that would change her fortunes while elevating Arriagada's profile.

Back-to-back runner-up efforts in the Grade 3 Runhappy Barbara Fritchie Stakes at Laurel and the G1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland attracted the attention of representatives of Medallion Racing, a partnership group that looks to purchase horses possessing graded-stakes-level talent and residual value post-racing (Medallion Racing is associated with Taylor Made Sales Agency).

Following a third-place performance in the G1 Derby City Distaff Stakes presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery on May 1 at Churchill Downs, Arriagada agreed to sell Estilo Talentoso to Medallion Racing and its partners for $400,000. Arriagada expected her next start in the G3 Bed o'Roses at Belmont on June 4 to be his last time training the filly, but following her gutsy, come-from-behind neck triumph on a sloppy track, the partners rewarded Arriagada by letting him keep Estilo Talentoso in his barn.

“He's given us no reason to change anything up,” Medallion Racing Manager Phillip Shelton said before the Breeders' Cup. “We want trainers who can give our horses a lot of individual attention, and I can't speak highly enough of what Juan has done.”

That testimonial aside, back in Oldsmar, life goes on as before for the Arriagada family. Juan and Alison work as a team, exercising horses in the mornings and bouncing ideas back and forth about the horses.

“I have to be on a horse. It's my life,” said Arriagada, a former jockey who was unable to ride for a while with a balky knee. “And Alison complains if she only gets on three or four. When she gets on seven or eight, then she's happy.”

They also receive occasional help from son Nicolas, 22, who works as an exercise rider for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. Nicolas earned his first career victory last April as a jockey at Tampa Bay Downs on one of his father's horses, but struggles to maintain weight redirected his career path.

Nicolas saw his dad's reaction to his mother's death and the scratch of Estilo Talentoso as lessons he wants to carry forward himself.

“Nobody wants to feel that way, but he knew he had to do what he needed to do. He showed me you have to be strong in this life,” Nicolas said. “Bad things will happen and you're going to hit the ground a lot of times, but you have to stand up and keep going.”

Besides his on-track Oldsmar triumphs, Arriagada had claimed four horses here through Wednesday; he is currently working with 20.

“The most important thing in this business is to have the right horses,” he said. “I don't know if I'm a lucky guy or I know a little about horses, but if you don't have the right ones you can't do anything.”

Arriagada has a solid working relationship with his employees, including grooms Clifford Rhymer, Ian Hughes and Mauricio Madrid. Rhymer, who trained horses in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, says being around the Arriagada barn fits his philosophy of putting the horses first and foremost. Both men continue to hone their horseshoeing techniques in an effort to keep the horses happy and focused on competition.

“Doing the right thing – that's his key,” Rhymer said. “The No. 1 thing is making sure they have good feet. That's the only way they can run. After that, you move to the body and start to work on that. Once you've got all the problems solved, you've got a good horse.

“I feel like we can talk about everything happening with the horses, and from there we know what to do,” Rhymer said.

This time of year, Arriagada feels grateful for his family (including Alison's mother, who cares for Tezza while they are at the track), his employees and the ability to pursue his passion. He knows nothing will be given to him, but is glad to work for his opportunities while enjoying his surroundings.

“Tampa Bay Downs just feels like home,” he said. “A lot of good things happen here, it's a beautiful place and I really like the people.”

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Madeline Rowland Honors Her Father’s Memory With First Career Victory

Each time Madeline Rowland has competed in her short career as a jockey, she has felt the presence of an angel on her shoulder.

Rowland, who turned 18 on Nov. 6, lost her father to cancer in 2012 at age 44. Primarily a steeplechase trainer, Paul Rowland conditioned such notables as multiple stakes winner Preemptive Strike, Suntara, Rainbows For Luck, Swimming River and Across The Sky.

“Every race I've ridden, before I leave the jockeys' room, I talk to my dad. Right before I leave the gate, I think to myself, keep the faith. Thank you. Because even though I don't have him here with me, at least I can count on him to look out for me,” Rowland said.

The youngster didn't need much help from outside forces in today's third race. Riding 4-year-old gelding Sancocho with the confidence of a grizzled veteran, rather than an apprentice with a 10-pound weight allowance making her ninth career start, Rowland moved Sancocho smartly to the lead in the stretch of the 7-furlong, $5,000 claiming race and rolled to a 3 ½-length score from runner-up Cliffy for the teen's first career victory.

Sancocho, who is owned and trained by Juan Arriagada, improved to 5-for-20 with the victory. He paid $10.60 to win. In another endearing twist to the story, Rowland and Sancocho were ponied to the starting gate by her boyfriend Nicolas Arriagada, Juan's son and a former jockey who earned his first career triumph aboard one of his dad's horses here on April 16.

Rowland's fellow jockeys did their part to make the occasion memorable, spraying her with a hose, dumping a couple of buckets of ice water on her head and smearing her with shaving cream on her return to the jockeys' quarters.

“Danny (Centeno) got me real good, and Skyler (Spanabel) was there with a hose waiting for me. I was like, I'm ready. I've been waiting for this.”

Juan was almost as far over the moon as “Maddie” after the race.

“I'm very happy for her. She's a good girl who deserves somebody to help her out, and I like to help young people who need support to keep pushing so they can do better,” he said. “She's been working for me the past couple of weeks and it's worked out well. There are a couple of things we have to fix, but everything went perfect today.”

Rowland, who grew up outside Fair Hill, Md., had ridden eight previous races at Delaware Park, Penn National and Laurel, with a second and a third. She said after today's victory that it felt at times like an out-of-body experience, as she reflected on the influence of her father, mom Jodi and others who have advanced her fledgling career.

“As I was crossing the wire, I thought that I hoped (owner-trainer Elizabeth) Merryman was watching me. She is like my racehorse mom – she taught me how to gallop racehorses,” Rowland said. “My own mom has been a huge support for me. At first when I wanted to do pony racing when I was 11 or 12, she tried to keep me away – 'No, do the show horses, don't go into racing' – but once she realized she couldn't keep me away she said 'Do it.'

“There are so many people I owe a lot to for me getting here. I thought about joining the military for a while because it would be great to serve my country that way, but now that I'm doing this, I can't imagine myself doing anything else,” she said.

“Breaking from the gate today, I already felt a smile on my face because I love doing it. Every race I've done, it's the same adrenaline whether I win or not.”

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Estilo Talentoso Splashes Home On Top In Bed O’ Roses

Medallion Racing, Barry Fowler, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Little Red Feather Racing, and BlackRidge Stables' Estilo Talentoso took advantage of her outside draw to capture Friday's Grade 3, $300,000 Bed o' Roses Stakes at Belmont Park, defeating Lake Avenue by a neck on the wire. Following a weather delay when a deluge hit the Elmont, NY track, the 4-year-old daughter of Maclean's Music splashed over the sloppy, sealed main track to cover seven furlongs in 1:22.96 under Javier Castellano.

Estilo Talentoso marks the first graded stakes winner for trainer Juan Arriagada, and was off as the 5-2 second choice in the field of six.

“I feel like I'm blessed,” Arriagada said. “To be in Belmont today and to win with her, it's one of the more beautiful things that could happen in my life right now. I appreciate the owners giving me the opportunity.”

Race-favorite Victim of Love (9-5) broke on top, as expected, and was pressured by Pacific Gale through fractions of :22.90 and :45.87. Bayerness and Lake Avenue were also close to the pace early. Castellano kept Estilo Talentoso out in the clear going in the center of the course, though at the back of the compact field down the backstretch.

Lake Avenue got a perfect rail trip to challenge for the lead at the head of the lane, but Castellano had already moved Estilo Talentoso into contention while staying widest of all. Lake Avenue grabbed a brief advantage while Bayerness made a run up the rail, but Estilo Talentoso was able to get her neck in front in the final sixteenth of a mile.

“It went well,” Castellano said. “That's what I was looking for today. Everything worked out perfect, the way it was set up. The two speed horses [went to the front] and I tried to keep track of the third horse, outside, because there seemed to be a lot of puddles on the rail, but my horse helped me to handle the situation very well. When I asked her, she responded very well and did it very well.”

Lake Avenue had to settle for second, while Bayerness checked in third. Pacific Gale was fourth.

Bred in Kentucky by Mile High Bloodstock, Estilo Talentoso is out of the unraced Afleet Alex mare Bazinga Baby. A $77,000 yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall sale, the filly later brought just $15,000 when selected by Arriagada at the OBS June sale. Estilo Talentoso began her career with four straight second-place finishes, and finally broke her maiden in her sixth start. She was stakes placed next out, and won the Escena Stakes at Gulfstream in August of her sophomore season. Since then Estilo Talentoso has twice hit the board in Grade 1 company, and the Bed o' Roses improves her overall record to 3-8-3 from 14 starts for earnings of over $430,000.

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Riding For His Father Makes First Win Extra Special For Nicolas Arriagada

Two initiations took place at Tampa Bay Downs after 21-year-old apprentice jockey Nicolas Arriagada earned the first victory of his career in Friday's sixth race on 9-year-old gelding Native Hawk at the Oldsmar, Fla., track.

One occurred on Arriagada's return to the jockeys' room, when his fellow riders lined up to welcome him into the fraternity of winners with buckets of ice water, shaving cream, soap and a couple of well-aimed sprays from a hose nozzle.

The first initiation came earlier, mere seconds after Arriagada and Native Hawk crossed the wire, when the winner's owner and trainer – Tampa Bay Downs conditioner Juan Arriagada, Nicolas's father  – received congratulations from fellow trainers, backstretch workers and fans ringing the winner's circle.

Juan Arriagada, himself a former jockey in Peru and Chile who rode about 350 winners, struggled to keep his emotions in check as he floated onto the racing surface to high-five his son. They shared a heartfelt embrace after Nicolas dismounted, his father probably realizing everything this rite of passage actually represents.

“Oh my god, it was perfect,” Juan Arriagada said. “To be the second race of his life. … I'm just very proud of him.”

Earlier, in the fourth race, Nicolas had finished third on his father's 6-year-old gelding Ellas My Love in his first career race. Coincidentally, another apprentice in search of his first victory, Eduviel Ignacio, finished second on Gettinintomischief in the fourth and second again in the seventh race on 43-1 shot La Bella Vita.

Both jockeys have worked the last few years as exercise riders for Tampa Bay Downs trainer Arnaud Delacour.

“I can't really explain the feeling, except that it is the best feeling in the world,” Nicolas said after cleaning up from the traditional, messy initiation. “For people like us who are into horses, to win a race for your dad on your first day as a jockey. … I'm probably going to cry, because it is amazing.”

As his father suggested, the winning ride was close to flawless. Sensing the pace contested by Tiz Approved and Friendly Fella in the 6 ½-furlong claiming race was a bit too fast, Nicolas allowed Native Hawk to drop back several lengths before encouraging him on the turn for home. “Little by little, I started asking my horse and he started answering real good. He switched leads and opened it up at the finish,” Nicolas said.

The winning margin was 2 ¾ lengths. Nicolas's mother, grandmother and sister watched the race together on television in Lima, Peru.

“My dad and I talked about the races a couple of days ago and he told me both horses had a chance and to keep them in the clear, don't rush and see what happened,” Nicolas said. “He also told me 'I can tell you a lot of things before a race, but when the gate opens a lot of things will change, and that is the difference with a good jockey – they make the right choices at the right moments.' ”

Nicolas grew up in Peru and was tutored by his late grandfather, trainer Raul Arriagada, after Juan moved to the United States when the boy was 4. Nicolas arrived in the states in 2018, rejoining his father on his quest to become a jockey.

“He taught me how to ride here, because we don't use a saddle in Peru. He put a saddle on a pony when we were at Delaware Park, and I'd ride that pony in a soccer field on the backside between races,” Nicolas said.

The experience working for Delacour was a godsend, too. “He taught me so many things and gave me so many opportunities. He'd take me aside and say 'Nicol, that was good, but you can do better if you do this.' That meant so much.”

And the treatment from his fellow jockeys on a pretty warm day (which, in the interest of full disclosure, Nicolas knew was coming)? Superb. He will remember it for a lifetime.

“It was just beautiful, because those are the guys I work with every morning. We see each other every day and we work together,” he said. “They'll tell me things I can do to get better, and I go out and practice them. It was a good moment.

“When I got there and saw them waiting, I just closed my eyes and it felt real nice.”

Around the oval. Antonio Gallardo and Jose Ferrer each rode two winners Friday. Gallardo won the first race on April Fog, a 6-year-old mare owned by Michael R. Di Tomasso and trained by M. A. Ferraro. Gallardo added the ninth and final race on the turf with Harrykeepthechange, a 3-year-old Florida-bred gelding owned by Reitman Stables and trained by Darien Rodriguez.

Ferrer blocked Ignacio's path to the winner's circle on two occasions, first in the fourth race on 7-year-old gelding Executive Decree, owned and trained by Gregory Eidschun. Ferrer also won the seventh on Bahamian Moon, a 4-year-old Florida-bred filly owned by Ridenjac Racing and David F. Kegley and trained by Dennis Ward.

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