Garrett Gomez was looking forward to the future Friday after hiring Tony
Matos as his agent. The two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey parted company
with Ron Anderson Tuesday after a five-year run during which Gomez led the
nation in purse earnings four straight years until 2010, when he finished
second.
“I got in touch with Tony because he’s been in this position before and he
seemed like the right kind of guy for the job,” said the 39-year-old Gomez,
whose desire to be near his family in Southern California was a major reason for
the split with Anderson, an “East Coast guy” who wanted to be closer to Eastern
stables.
“I wanted to keep my options open and see who was available and willing
before making a decision,” Gomez said.
Matos, who has represented Victor Espinoza for 13 years, will continue as
agent for the 38-year-old Espinoza. Matos will help find a new agent for
Christian Santiago-Reyes, a rider he had been representing.
“Victor has never interfered with me taking another rider while representing
him,” Matos said. “It’s not going to hurt his business.”
Through Thursday, Gomez was sixth in the Santa Anita standings with 32 wins.
Espinoza was seventh with 29.
“It just happened,” Matos said in explaining how he hooked up with Gomez.
“I’m very fortunate to have two great riders and I’ll do the best I can for each
of them. I’ve worked all over the country in my 45 years as an agent —
Kentucky, Chicago, New York and Arkansas and I’m very excited about this
opportunity. It was one that I couldn’t pass up.”
Matos, 66, represented riders who have won the Kentucky Derby (G1) six times:
Angel Cordero for 10 years, during which he won the Derby on Cannonade and Bold
Forbes; Laffit Pincay Jr. for 10 years, during which he won the Derby on Swale;
Kent Desormeaux during his Derby-winning years on Real Quiet and Fusaichi
Pegasus; and Espinoza, who won the Derby in 2002 on War Emblem.
Other top riders Matos has represented include Chris Antley, Rene Douglas,
Corey Nakatani, Gary Stevens and Patrick Valenzuela.