CC Lopez Races Against Sons at Golden Gate Fields
When veteran jockey Charles C Lopez (known in racing circles as CC Lopez) decided to visit his racing sons apprentice David C. Lopez and nine-year rider Erick Lopez at Golden Gate Fields this week, nobody really knew it would turn into a family competition, but that’s exactly what happened in the sixth race on Friday.
With David, 25, and Erick 27, already having mounts in the race, David’s agent Dennis Patterson got CC a mount in the race when a horse came up open at the draw. For the first time in the 36 years that the 55-year-old Charles C Lopez has been riding, he finally got a chance to ride in a race against two of his sons.
The race provided little drama on the win end as 6/5 favorite Smart Ellis drew off early and held on for a comfortable 2 ¼ length win. David, aboard second choice The Alameda Kid, settled in fourth on the backside and moved up on the turn to finish an easy second by 3 ¼ lengths. The real battle was for third place money with dad Charles, aboard 22-1 shot Time to Glow, and son Erick, on 6-1 chance High Greeley, who battled head to head down the lane, with Erick getting the nod in a photo.
After the race, all three jogged their horses back together to be unsaddled.
“It was really fun, “David said after the race, as he won bragging rights. “I was ahead of them whole way. I just wanted to make sure I stayed in front of them."
Erick admitted there was a little talking going on during the race as he and his dad stayed pretty much together as they made a run from the back of the pack.
“I was saying just like old times huh dad and he said yea you got that right,” Erick said of the side by side in race banter. “We were both fighting trying to get third but I knew I had him.”
For the elder Lopez, it fulfilled a dream come true.
“Ideally it would have been nice to have little stretch duel with both but just the fact that we rode together is better than winning a stake race,” a smiling Lopez said. “ Nothing can replace this feeling.”
The veteran Lopez has won 4,174 races in his career, including 34 Grade 3’s and 5 Grade 2’s. In fact this year alone , Lopez won a trio of Grade 3’s including the Lone Star Park Handicap with Majestic City, and the Jerome and Gotham Stakes aboard El Kabeir. David is currently 4th in the GGF standings and Erick has won 117 lifetime races.
According to published reports, a father rode with two of his sons in the same race, at least twice prior.
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In 2009, it was the trio of dad Tony McNeil who rode against sons Bryan and Erik on at Lone Star Park (the three finished 1-2-3). Another report states the family of father Tony Cordova with sons Dale and Bobby raced together at San Juan Downs in Farmington New Mexico.
Charles Lopez has two mounts Sunday at Golden Gate and may not be in a hurry to get back to Monmouth Park.
“I may stick around for a little bit and see what happens, there isn’t anything to rush back to Monmouth Park for, they only run three days a week,’ Lopez said. “ The response has been great. I got here Monday and I rode today and have two mounts on Sunday so you never know what might happen.”