DREAM TRIP; ONCE-TROUBLED FLORES HAS RIDING TITLE, DERBY HOPES.Byline: Fred J. Robledo Three years after drug and alcohol problems almost cost him his career, David Flores Flores, town, Guatemala Flores (flōrəs), town (1990 est. pop. 2,200), capital of Petén department, N Guatemala. Flores was built on an island in the southern part of Lake Petén Itzá and on the site of the is on top of the racing world. Of course, that's his world. And when you've scraped the bottom of the barrel, climbing to the top means so much more. In the winter of 1996, Flores' substance-abuse problems almost caused the Tijuana native to call it quits. ``It was one of those times when I thought I was out of the game,'' Flores, 31, said. ``There were a lot of people around me who helped. I believe there is a lot of love in this sport. ``I thought my reputation was going to be bad for a long time. I thought I would never get it totally back. After working at my own life, things started changing as the months went on. I was like a baby starting to walk again.'' On Saturday, he seeks his first Kentucky Derby Kentucky Derby One of the classic U.S. Thoroughbred horse races. It was established in 1875 and run annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs track in Louisville, Ky. With the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, it makes up U.S. racing's coveted Triple Crown. victory, aboard the Bob Baffert-trained Prime Timber, one of the top contenders. Baffert is one who Flores credits for helping his recovery. ``Baffert has been one of the guys who helped put me on a lot of winners,'' Flores said. ``I'm glad trainers like him don't mind my life in the past. All he asked was that I work hard and listen, listen, listen.'' Flores listened all right - so well that he won the riding championship he had coveted cov·et v. cov·et·ed, cov·et·ing, cov·ets v.tr. 1. To feel blameworthy desire for (that which is another's). See Synonyms at envy. 2. To wish for longingly. See Synonyms at desire. for so long. He led the recently concluded Santa Anita Santa Anita may refer to:
``(It) is one of the greatest meetings in the world,'' Flores said. ``My dad always said, `This is the greatest. Every jockey in the world wants to be here.' Man, it's hard to explain how much it means to me. Being the top here, it's a dream. That's all I can say, it's a dream come true.'' Talk to Flores long enough and you'll hear about his dad. Through his past problems, whenever he needed someone to help get him through a tough day, all he had to do was look to his 91-year-old father, David Don Flores. ``I see him happy every time I visit the winner's circle,'' Flores said. ``He's my dad and he's my biggest friend.'' Flores recalls the story his father has told him about his birth. He was so small his crib was a shoebox shoe·box n. 1. An oblong box, usually made of cardboard, for holding a pair of shoes. 2. Something resembling or suggestive of such a box, as a plain, rectangular building or a cramped room or dwelling. Noun 1. . It was then that Flores' dad knew his son would be a jockey. ``He knew I was going to be a jockey. All his dreams came true,'' Flores said. ``He's had so many kids (approximately 30), and I was one of his last. I know this means a lot to him and he's my motivation every time I ride.'' Flores' father split with David's mother when he was young. As he sat in his usual seat at Santa Anita recently with a TV monitor overhead, the elder Flores explained how he reared his son. ``When he was 7, I used to ride him in two-horse match races and he would beat the older boys,'' he said. ``I knew in my heart he would be a rider. That's exactly what I said when I held him in my arms the first time. I told him I'm going to give you my name. You're going to be David Flores and you're going to be a jockey and a champion when you grow up.'' The younger Flores almost became a Derby champion. He rode Free House to a third-place finish in the 1997 Kentucky Derby - a memory he holds dear. ``You know what I remember first?'' Flores asked. ``I remember that Kentucky song. It gives you chills. I enjoyed that race in every way. I got beat by Silver Charm, but I remember the trip like it was yesterday.'' And he would love to give his father and family in Mexico a Kentucky Derby victory - just the thought causes Flores to swell with pride. ``That's every jock's dream,'' Flores said. ``A lot of jocks have been there and they keep hoping they're going to win it someday, too.'' After a brief pause, he finished. ``Are you kidding? A little kid from Tijuana winning that race,'' he said. ``Wow. It's really hard to imagine.'' A CLOSER LOOK Name: David Flores Birthdate: Feb. 5, 1968 Birthplace: Tijuana, Mexico Hometown: South El Monte South El Monte, city (1990 pop. 20,850), Los Angeles co., S Calif., in the San Gabriel Valley; inc. 1958. Manufactures include transportation equipment, electrical and plastic products, clothing, textiles, machinery, and furniture. There is poultry processing. Height: 5-4, Weight: 115 Major stakes wins: 1998 Kentucky Oaks (Keeper Hill), 1997 Santa Anita Handicap The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in the late winter at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses three years old and up, and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during (Siphon siphon (sī`fən, –fŏn), tube through which a liquid is lifted over an elevation by the pressure of the atmosphere and is then emptied at a lower level. ), 1996 Hollywood Gold Cup The Hollywood Gold Cup is a Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions. (Siphon), 1996 Del Mar Futurity The Del Mar Futurity is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. Beginning in the racing season of 2007, this race has been upgraded by the American Graded Stakes Committee from a Grade II event to a Grade I. (Silver Charm), 1991 Hollywood Gold Cup (Marquetry marquetry (mär`kətrē), branch of cabinetwork in which a decorative surface of wood or other substance is glued to an object on a single plane. ). Highlights: Won six consecutive riding titles at Fairplex, 1989-94. On Sept. 20, 1992, became first rider in 54-year history of the Los Angeles County Fair The Los Angeles County Fair (also called simply the L.A. County Fair) is an annual event held in the Fairplex in Pomona, California, held every September. It is a carnival with rides, merchants, food vendors, cooking contests, and livestock. The 2007 L.A. to win six races on a single program. Won 1999 Fairplex meet with record 48 victories, including seven added-money events. CAPTION(S): Photo, Box PHOTO David Flores BOX: A CLOSER LOOK (see text) |
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