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Trainer Pedro Garcia Earns First American Win At Gulfstream

Trainer Pedro Garcia saddled No Commission ($8.20) for a late-rallying victory on Saturday's program at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., to register his first success in the U.S.

The 34-year-old Venezuelan native immigrated to South Florida two months ago along with his father Pedro Garcia.

“This is a new beginning,” Garcia said. “The racetrack is very competitive. It's a great experience.

Garcia claimed No Commission out of a second-place finish for $6,250 shortly after arriving and reaped immediate success when the 3-year-old pulled away to a three-length score in a 5 ½-furlong $6,250 claimer carded as Race 5. No Commission was claimed out of the race.

“I have two horses right now, but I think it's only one at this moment,” Garcia said.

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Fuentes Notches First Victory As Journeyman Jockey

Scarlett's Flower made a last-to-first surge to graduate at first asking to open Saturday's program at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., providing jockey Mario Fuentes with his first success as a journeyman.

Fittingly, Matthew Williams, who saddled Fuentes' first career winner, Areyoutalkingtome, in March 2020 at Gulfstream, trains Scarlett's Flower, a debuting daughter of Mucho Macho Man who scored by 3 ¾ lengths in the 5 ½-furlong maiden race for 2-year-old fillies.

“It's good to get this one out of the way,” said Fuentes, a native of Chile who is the son of South Florida trainer Mauricio Fuentes. “I won my first career race for Matthew Williams and gave me my first winner as a journeyman. He's always helped me out. It's amazing. I just want to keep making progress and working hard.”

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Jockey Andres Calleja Relishing Dream Job As He Gets His First Win

Andres Calleja felt like a winner after guiding Bryan Waldridge's War Eagle's Love to a fourth-place finish for trainer Anthony Stephen in Friday's second race at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. The experience fulfilled the 22-year-old's dream of being a jockey and set him on a career course.

“It is indescribable,” Calleja said about the experience while he accepted well wishes from colleagues in the crowd. “There is just so much happening (in the race) with so many moving parts. Trying to focus is definitely something I have to keep practicing. I got as fit and as prepared as I possibly could.”

A graduate of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Calleja is planning a second career while he concentrates on riding racehorses. He has been taking classes at the University of Kentucky with a long-range plan of earning an engineering degree. For now, winning races is his first priority.

“I definitely will be taking some more classes,” he said. “I really like the mathematics. I am not in any rush. That is a future goal. That is something to lean back on, but being a jockey is my dream.”

Calleja learned about racing from his father, Gustavo, who has held various positions in the industry including riding horses at unofficial tracks in Mexico. The younger Calleja had no previous experience in the saddle until he climbed aboard an inexperienced Thoroughbred filly owned by his father. He eventually started riding other people's racehorses while doing barn chores. He met Anthony Stephen at The Thoroughbred Center in north Lexington.

Stephen, a former jockey, recognized Calleja's enthusiasm and dedication and decided to give the youngster his first afternoon mount. Calleja is scheduled to ride again for Stephen in Sunday's fourth race where he is named aboard Americain Joey.

“He works really hard seven days a week,” Stephen said. “He always wants to do more. He knows (War Eagle's Love) really well. He rides her every morning. He gets along with her and that is the main thing – not every jockey fits every horse. He deserved the chance. He did great.”

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Paco Lopez X-Rayed For Possible Shoulder Injury After Meadowlands Spill

Leading jockey Paco Lopez, coming off his eighth riding title at Monmouth Park, was taken by ambulance to Hackensack Medical Center for X-rays on his left shoulder after his mount in the third race, Voter Protection, broke down entering the first turn of the 1 1/16-mile turf race, according to the first aid staff at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, N.J.

Voter Protection, the even-money favorite in the race, was at the back of the pack and clear of other horses at the time of the misstep that sent Lopez headlong into the turf. First Aid personnel said Lopez was “alert and oriented” but was complaining of left shoulder pain.

Lopez later told track personnel that his shoulder “popped out” but was not broken. He took off his final three mounts on the card.

According to the Equibase chart, Voter Protection was euthanized.

A 3-year-old More Than Ready gelding racing for Klaravich Stables Inc. and trained by Chad Brown, Voter Protection was making his seventh career start in the $25,000 maiden claiming race for 3-year-olds and up. He had raced for a claiming tag twice previously, most recently while finishing sixth in a six-furlong turf race for $50,000 maiden claimers at Belmont Park on Sept. 26.

Lopez is second leading jockey by wins in North America in 2021. His 281 wins are just nine behind Irad Ortiz Jr. Lopez is three wins shy of his most productive year in the saddle, and at nearly $10.6 million he is closing in on his best year from an earnings standpoint.

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