Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Herrera gives U.S. another try
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Jacinto Herrera, something of a legendary jockey in South America, is giving North America another try.
Herrera, a 46-year-old native of Lima, Peru, was to have his first Arlington mount on Saturday. He also has rides on the Sunday card. All are for trainer Ignacio Correas, who came to the U.S. from Argentina after operating a very successful stable there. It’s Correas who has engineered Herrera’s move to Arlington. Herrera won’t have an agent for a time and Correas is the de facto manager of his career.
“He’s won everything in Argentina and Peru,” Correas said. “Every big race he’s won three or four times. I won most of my big races in Argentina with him. Won Group 1’s with him. He was my rider. It’s 20 years later, but he still has something to give.”
Herrera, Correas said, has been riding with success in Peru but plans to stay in the U.S. if things go well.
Herrera tried his luck in Florida in 2014, 2015, and 2016, compiling a record of 21-22-23 from 239 mounts.
“He just wasn’t in the right spot,” Correas said. “He ended up riding a lot of cheap horses.”
Herrera also was just coming back from a layoff of several years necessitated by serious injuries suffered in a bad spill during 2008. Herrera turned to training during his period away from riding before deciding he was ready for more as a jockey. Now, in his mid-40s, he is ready for a new challenge.
Synthetic lovers in showdown
Gorgeous George is a poor man’s version of Good Bye Greg. Or is he, at this stage, close to his equal?
Probably not, but the featured third race Sunday at Arlington brings them together and will reveal more than the past performance lines can show.
Good Bye Greg is a minor Arlington star with seven wins, a second, and a third from nine Polytrack starts over five years. Good Bye Greg struggles to stay sound, but each summer trainer Larry Rivelli and his crew manage to get him right enough for an Arlington campaign. Now 7, Good Bye Greg returned from his latest long layoff and won July 21, taking his synthetic-surface talents to turf.
Good Bye Greg raced for a $50,000 claiming price and is back in for the same tag and back to Polytrack in a race also open to second-level allowance horses. Good Bye Greg is a frontrunner and has noted speed rider E.T. Baird as his jockey. He and is favorably drawn outside other speed in the race. He’ll be something close to even-money and, historically, has been the wrong favorite to try and beat.
Gorgeous George is up in class from starter-allowances to race under second-level allowance conditions, and he, like Good Bye Greg, has a special fondness for the local all-weather surface, over which he has compiled a 5-2-1 record from 10 starts. Gorgeous George needs some time to get his large frame together and does his best work late, and if Malraux and Moose go fast and soften up the favorite, Gorgeous George just might have enough quality to run them all down.
◗ Hotshot Anna, who ran a huge race winning the Chicago on June 23, earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure, is back on a regular work pattern for owner-trainer Hugh Robertson and is on track to start Aug. 20 at Presque Isle Downs in the $100,000 Satin and Lace Stakes over six furlongs on Tapeta. If all goes well there, Hotshot Anna will return to Presque Isle for the $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters on Sept. 17.
◗ Indiana Grand was forced to cancel its entire card this past Wednesday because of heavy storms, and that card included two $150,000 stakes for Indiana-breds. Those two races will be run on the Aug. 15 program, which was drawn Friday morning.
◗ Prairie Meadows was to host its final Thoroughbred card of the summer Friday night. Racing action at the central Iowa track switches to Quarter Horses for the rest of the season.