Torres looks to make history

An apprentice has never won a riding title at Gulfstream Park. For much of its 80-year history, only one meet was conducted annually at the South Florida track, with elite journeymen invariably dominating the jockey standings.

But even with multiple meets being conducted annually since Gulfstream began racing nearly year round in 2013, no apprentice has been the leading rider. That might be about to change.

Apprentice Cristian Torres, 21, is challenging Edgard Zayas at the current summer meet, which began July 1 and runs through Sept. 29. After winning four races Saturday, including his first stakes aboard Ms Meshak in the Added Elegance, Torres exited the weekend just two wins (26-24) behind Zayas atop the meet standings.

“This is unbelievable,” Torres told Gulfstream publicity after his breakthrough stakes triumph. “I don’t have words. It’s a dream come true. I’ve worked so hard for this.”

Torres, born in Puerto Rico, was raised in Orlando, Fla., but returned to Puerto Rico to learn the racing game. After working for trainer Mark Casse as an exercise rider, he began riding races at the spring meet, getting his first win on April 21.

After Saturday action, Torres was actually in a 24-24 tie with Zayas, who rode two winners Sunday to pull back ahead.

Torres, with Kevin Meyocks as agent, is named on eight mounts Thursday.

Florida Sire Stakes ahead

Unbeaten records are expected to be at risk when the opening legs of the annual Florida Sire Stakes series are run Saturday at six furlongs. Positively Awesome will be favored in the $100,000 Dr. Fager, and Lenzi’s Lucky Lady will fill the same role in the $100,000 Desert Vixen. Both swept their first two starts.

Entries for both races for 2-year-olds will be drawn Wednesday.

Subsequent races in the $1.4 million Sire Stakes series are the Affirmed and Susan’s Girl on Aug. 31 and the In Reality and My Dear Girl on Sept. 28.

◗ A nine-race Thursday card will be highlighted a lone allowance (race 7), with the 20-cent Rainbow 6 spanning races 4-9. A five-day race week began Wednesday with $356,444 in the Rainbow 6 jackpot. First post is 1:15 p.m. Eastern.