Espinoza coasts to 3,000th victory

Jockey Victor Espinoza flashes a smile after achieving his milestone (Benoit Photos)

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.