With time and hard work, Victor Espinoza has nearly doubled his win
percentage in less than two months. The 40-year-old Tijuana native finished a
lackluster Hollywood Park meet with seven victories from 51 mounts for a win
percentage of 14.
Fast forward through 18 days of the current Santa Anita meet and Espinoza has
10 victories from 37 mounts for a winning percentage of 27, well above the best
of any rider with at least three wins this meet. Espinoza also has three seconds
and six thirds for an in-the-money percentage of 51.35.
“It’s like anything else,” reasoned Espinoza, who won the 2002 Kentucky Derby
aboard War Emblem. “When you’re not winning that many, you try harder and work
harder trying to reach the next step. Right now, I feel great and the horses are
running great.
“The trainers I ride for, their horses run very well, so we’ll try to keep it
going. Pretty much every horse I ride is in the money or wins, and that’s what
I’m here for. I expect to win each time I go to the track.
“I don’t want to go out there just for a workout. I feel I’m riding as well
as I did when I was younger, and I even feel stronger than before. I don’t ride
the quality of horses that I used to, but the ones I ride right now are pretty
good. When the barns I ride for start winning races, that’s what puts you on
top. When they’re not, your percentage is very low.”
Espinoza hopes to enhance his impressive percentage Saturday when he rides
Teddy’s Promise for owners Ted and Judy Nichols and trainer Ron Ellis in the
Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at seven furlongs.
“Seven-eighths is one of her best distances,” Espinoza said of the
five-year-old California-bred mare by Salt Lake, who won the Grade 1 La Brea
Stakes at seven furlongs in December of 2011.
In her last start, Teddy’s Promise rolled to a 5 1/4-length triumph with
Espinoza aboard in the 6 1/2-furlong Kalookan Queen Stakes December 29 on a
wet-fast Santa Anita main track.
“She’s doing great,” Espinoza, said. “She’s returned to her old form.
Earlier, she bounced in a couple races, but after her last race, I think she’s
back and will run like old times. The Kalookan Queen was not that tough a field,
but she ran an unbelievable race.”
Espinoza is represented by agent Brad Pegram, as is Hall of Fame jockey Mike
Smith.
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