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| Victor Espinoza |
Stats Updated Through: 11/19/2009
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| 2009 Stats: | | Starts | | 759 | | 1st-2nd-3rd | | 125-106-87 | | Earnings (Rank) | | $7,218,824 (22) | | Win % (In-The-Money %) | | 16% (41%) |
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Top Associated Horses:
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Zensational,
Misremembered,
Mythical Power,
The Usual Q. T.,
Repo,
Patricia's Gem |
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Biography, Highlights and Media:
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- Height: 5’2”
- Weight: 112
- Born: May 23, 1972, Mexico City, Mexico
- Residence: Arcadia, Calif.
- Family: Single.
- Through Oct. 5. 2008, Espinoza has 89 wins from 677 starts in 2008 for $5,339,155 in earnings.
- Has one Breeders’ Cup victory from 31 mounts, winning the 2000 Distaff aboard Spain. Also posted a second aboard Spain in the 2001 Distaff and on Kafwain in the 2002 Juvenile.
- Top mounts in 2008 include Foxysox (GB) (G2T Santa Barbara Handicap, 3rd Paseana and Wishing Well Handicaps); Tiz Elemental (G3 Las Flores, Honest Lady Handicaps); Palacio de Amor (2nd G1 Oak Leaf Stakes, G1 Del Mar Debutante); Greg's Gold (G2 Potrero Grande Handicap); Missit (IRE) (G2 Providencia Handicap); El Roblar (G3 Inglewood Handicap); Crown of Thorns (G2 Robert B. Lewis Handicap); Ainamaa (3rd Miss America Stakes); Tiz a Blend (Valentine Dancer Handicap); Lucky JH (Sensational Star Handicap) and Trick's Pic (Tuzla Handicap).
- Won the 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness with War Emblem. War Emblem stumbled badly at the start of the Belmont Stakes and finished eighth. Finished third in his first Kentucky Derby on Congaree in 2001.
- His breakthough year was 2000. He won three major riding titles and 31 stakes races, 15 of them graded. He finished seventh nationally in earnings that year with $13.2 million. In addition to the Breeders’ Cup victory with Spain, he won the Hollywood Gold Cup with Early Pioneer, his first win in a $1 million or grade 1 race.
- Moved to the United States in 1993, riding at Santa Anita Park, then Bay Meadows. Was leading apprentice at Bay Meadows in 1993-94 and at Golden Gate in 1994.
- Moved to Southern California and topped standings at Fairplex in 1996 and 1997.
- Espinoza was the regular rider of The Tin Man, winner at age nine of the G1 Shoemaker BC Mile in 2007. Also rode the gallant old campaigner to victory in the 2006 G1 Arlington Million and to a second-place finish in the 2007 G1 Arlington Million. The Tin Man was retired in November of 2007, after surgery.
- Has won riding titles at all the tracks on the Southern California circuit (Del Mar, Hollywood Park, Santa Anita and Fairplex) including the 2006-2007 Santa Anita race meet with 83 wins, tying Garrett Gomez for the top spot. Ranked second, three wins behind Patrick Valenzuela at the 2005-06 Santa Anita meeting.
- Won his 2,000th career race on March 19, 2006 at Santa Anita, aboard Fear No Darkness, fittingly trained by Bob Baffert, the conditioner of War Emblem, Espinoza's winning Kentucky Derby mount.
- Won a record seven races at Del Mar on Labor Day, 2006, to eclipse the six-win mark shared by Bill Shoemaker, Laffit Pincay Jr., and Rudy Rosales.
- Drove a bus in his native Mexico City before turning to riding. Said, "It's a lot easier riding horses than driving in that traffic in Mexico City." First riding lessons were on a farm outside Mexico City after high school. Also attended a jockey school for one year, a requirement in Mexico. Won his first race at Hippodromo de las Americas in 1992.
- Part of a family racing tradition. Brother Jose is a rider in New York and another brother, Leo, is a former rider now living in Mexico City.
- Won the 2002 ESPY Award for Best Jockey.
- Spends spare time in the gym or at the wheel of his sports car.
- Agent Tony Matos books his mounts.
Breeders' Cup Record| Starts | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Earnings | | 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | $1,933,200 |
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NOTE: Stats include North American and selected international races. Click here to view selected international race list.
Biographies on jockeys, trainers and owners are from the Breeders' Cup World Championships events from 2001 through 2009, and are intended as informational resources. Biographies will be updated if an individual is again a participant in the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
Biographies are available for most horses appearing in the top 100 money earnings list, and/or for those who are frequently making headlines in the news starting with the 2006 Triple Crown season.
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