FLORES' BIG YEAR IS NO SMOOTH RIDE : SUCCESS TEMPERED BY LOSS OF FRIEND.Byline: Kevin Modesti Staff Writer Listening to 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 speak enthusiastically about the horses he'll ride in Saturday's Breeders' Cup The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Grade I thoroughbred horse races operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982 by a consortium of North American racing organizations, led by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. at Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans January through March, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America. in Florida, it's hard to believe that two months ago he said he didn't want to go back on a racetrack ever again. In the crushing emotion the day J.C. Gonzalez was killed in a two-horse accident at Fairplex Park in Pomona, Flores told a friend on the phone, ``I don't want to ride anymore.'' ``He was like a brother for me,'' Flores said over the weekend at his stall in the Santa Anita Santa Anita may refer to:
Flores, who is 31, and Gonzalez, who was 23, used to drive to Flores' native Tijuana to watch midnight rooster rooster its crowing at dawn heralds each new day. [Western Folklore: Leach, 329] See : Dawn rooster symbol of maleness. [Folklore: Binder, 85] See : Virility fights (which are legal in Mexico). Flores was a mentor to the young rider, just as he had been helped 15 years ago at Caliente racetrack by a veteran jockey, Federico Ruiz, killed in a fall Flores said was similar to Gonzalez's. ``It's not just me. We all try to help riders when they start,'' Flores said. Flores heard of Gonzalez's death on a car phone as he traveled from Del Mar Del Mar is the name of several places in the United States of America:
At the same time, Flores was dealing with the illness of his father (since recovered) and separated from his wife (they're still apart); they have three daughters. ``(Gonzalez's death) made me think about a lot of things,'' Flores said. He wondered about his career choice but decided ``it's what we (jockeys) do for a living, this is what we like to do, and things happen. ``I've just got to be grateful for (each) day and pray for my family. We're all here for only a short time. I try not to think about it in a negative way. There's a better place somewhere up there, and he (Gonzalez) is watching us.'' Gonzalez has watched Flores continue a breakthrough year by taking the lead over Alex Solis Alex O. Solis (born March 25, 1964 in Panama City, Panama) is a jockey based in the United States. He currently lives in Glendora, California and rides predominantly in Southern California. He first gained national prominence when he won the 1986 Preakness Stakes with Snow Chief. in the Oak Tree jockeys' race. Flores won his first major-track titles earlier in 1999 at Santa Anita and Del Mar, having become the No. 1 rider for dominant trainer Bob Baffert Bob Baffert (born January 13, 1953 in Nogales, Arizona) is an American horse owner and trainer. He graduated from the University of Arizona's Racetrack Management Program with a Bachelor of Science degree. when Gary Stevens briefly moved his tack to England. Saturday Gonzalez will watch Flores ride in five of the eight Breeders' Cup races on what could be the greatest day of his - or any jockey's - career. Flores has ridden in only six Breeders' Cup races in his life. None of those horses commanded odds lower than 11-1 (Track Gal in the 1997 Sprint at Hollywood Park), and none finished better than fifth. But this time he'll be aboard favorites Chilukki (Juvenile Fillies) and Forest Camp (Juvenile), contender General Challenge (Classic) and longshot Tuzla (Mile) for Baffert, as well as longshot Enjoy the Moment (Sprint) for trainer Bill Spawr. The one Flores most looks forward to riding at Gulfstream seems to be Chilukki. He guided the 2-year-old owned by Houston pro football's Bob McNair to three of her six victories without a defeat. ``She's an unbelievable filly,'' Flores said, unworried about Chilukki's less-than-impressive victory in Santa Anita's recent Oak Leaf, her first attempt to race beyond the sprint distances her pedigree suggests. ``I believe Bob (Baffert) knows what he's doing. He's focusing just to get the horses ready for the Breeders' Cup (even if) they get beat (in their preps).'' Flores said the same confidence in Baffert's big-race preparations applies to Forest Camp (beaten by Dixie Union in the Norfolk) and General Challenge (outgamed by Budroyale in the Goodwood). ``It feels good to know I have a chance in a few races next Saturday,'' Flores said. ``It could be one of the biggest moments of my life.'' A day to be grateful for. A RIDE TO THE TOP A look at David Flores' growth in `99 Won first major-track jockey titles at Santa Anita and Del Mar. Leads Southern California riders with 186 victories in 1999. Took over from Gary Stevens as top trainer Bob Baffert's No. 1 rider. Won $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar with General Challenge. His mounts' $10.3 million in earnings rank fifth in the nation. Set to ride five horses, including two favorites, in Breeders' Cup. COUNTDOWN TO THE BREEDERS' CUP Part of a series looking at the races At The Races is a British television channel, originally co-founded with Channel 4, but now owned by a partnership between British Sky Broadcasting, Arena Leisure PLC and 28 (out of the 59) UK racecourses. on Saturday's $13 million Breeders' Cup program at Gulfstream Park in Florida. Today: the two races for 2-year-olds. BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup. Purse: $1 million; $520,000 to the winner. Eligible: 2-year-old colts and geldings. Distance: 1 1/16 miles on the main (dirt) track. Record: 1:41.47 by Favorite Trick in 1997 at Hollywood Park. History: The Juvenile usually anoints the 2-year-old champion and the early favorite for the following May's Kentucky Derby. But none of the 15 Juvenile winners has gone on to win the Derby. Favorite Trick's record-setting victory in 1997 clinched the first Horse of the Year title by a 2-year-old since Secretariat in 1973. Arazi's sweeping rally from 13th to a five-length victory in 1991 at Churchill Downs is among the most rousing Breeders' Cup performances. D. Wayne Lukas Darrell Wayne Lukas (born September 2, 1935 in Antigo, Wisconsin) is a former educator who became one of the most successful horse trainers in American Thoroughbred horse racing history and a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee. has trained five Juvenile winners. Contenders: 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. winner Forest Camp and his Norfolk Stakes upsetter Dixie Union are the favorites since summer sensation More Than Ready dropped out. Only twice have California-prepped horses been favored in the Juvenile; Chief's Crown (1984) and Capote (1986) both won. BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE FILLIES The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies is a 1 1/16-mile thoroughbred horse race on dirt (although the distance has varied, depending on the configuration of the host track) for two-year-old fillies run annually since 1984 at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part Purse: $1 million; $520,000 to the winner. Eligible: 2-year-old fillies. Distance: 1 1/16 miles on the main (dirt) track. Record: 1:42.11 by Countess Diana in 1997 at Hollywood Park. History: Next to the Distaff - for older females - this has been the most formful Breeders' Cup race, with 12 of the 15 Juvenile Fillies winners paying 4-1 or less. None led all the way and nine rallied from sixth or farther back in the pack. Memorable runnings include Lukas' 1-2-3 finish with Open Mind, Darby Shuffle and Lea Lucinda (1988); Lukas' Flanders and Serena's Song fighting head and head to the wire (1994); and Silverbulletday edging Bob Baffert barnmate Excellent Meeting (1998). Most winners have been voted champion 2-year-old fillies. Contenders: Baffert-trained Chilukki is undefeated in six starts but still has skeptics about her stamina. Lukas-trained Surfside surf·side adj. Situated or sited at or near the seashore: surfside parties; a surfside road. could be her match based on her breeding - by Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew out of Juvenile Fillies winner Flanders - and her New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of performances. CAPTION(S): photo, 2 boxes PHOTO David Flores will ride in five of the eight Breeders' Cup races Saturday in Florida. His mounts include favorites Chilukki and Forest Camp. Victoria Arocho/Associated Press BOX: (1) A ride to the top (see text) (2) Countdown to the Breeders' Cup (see text) |
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