Jockey Victor Espinoza earned the 3,000th victory of his career when favored
Flashy Delight easily won the 4TH race Friday at Hollywood Park.
The milestone in the $8,000 claimer for older fillies and mares came nearly
21 years after the 41-year-old native of Mexico City earned his first victory at
Hipodromo de las Americas in his hometown.
A winner of four local riding titles, Espinoza is 12th on the all-time list
at Hollywood Park with 928 victories. He ranks eighth with 118 stakes wins.
Dropping in class for Rockingham Ranch and trainer Peter Miller after being
claimed for $20,000 April 25, Flashy Delight took over the lead approaching the
stretch while on the outside and cruised home by eight lengths in the race at
seven furlongs over Cushion Track.
The win was the fourth for the four-year-old Vindication filly — all in
tandem with Espinoza.
“It was kind of an exciting feeling coming down the stretch, like, ‘Now I did
it, 3,000 finally,”‘ Espinoza said. “I don’t have to wait another day. You never
know, some days you come and feel you have a good chance to win and the horses
don’t run.
“But, the last sixteenth of a mile I thought, ‘Now, it’s done,’ so I can have
fun right now.
“It’s funny (that he had ridden only a couple of horses for Miller in recent
months). We kind of separated for awhile. It’s like a relationship. Break up for
a little while and come back again.
“(Miller) told me that if I didn’t win my 3,000th (Thursday), you will win
with (Flashy Delight Friday).”
Espinoza was the second jockey to collect his 3,000th win at the
spring/summer meet. Rafael Bejarano reached the milestone May 11 aboard the Bob
Baffert-trained Ondine.
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