Apprentice jockey Morales off to fast start at Ellis Park

Having begun his riding career only last October, apprentice jockey Edgar Morales is off to a fast start at Ellis Park, with three wins, a second and four thirds in 14 mounts so far this young meet.

The three wins tie Morales for the lead heading into Friday’s card with Jack Gilligan, another young jockey working hard to make a name for himself in Kentucky. (Note: James Graham won Friday’s first race to pull into a tie for the lead, with Jack Gilligan winning the third for his fourth win of the meet.)

“It’s a long meet yet, but we’re off to a good start,” said Julio Espinoza, the former jockey who is Morales’ agent. “I’m looking forward to having a big meet, maybe even leading rider.”

Said Morales: “This is my first year here. But with the good horses, the trainers giving me the opportunity and a good agent, we’re doing well and working hard. … It’s a tough meet here, too, but we’re working hard, paying attention and keep trying.” 

Morales is the 20-year-old brother of Roberto Morales, a veteran jockey currently riding in Louisiana. The brothers are from Puerto Rico, known for its state-run jockey school that has launched greats such as John Velazquez and young standouts Jose and Irad Ortiz. Not that it’s easy getting started even with the training of that well-known school, but Edgar Morales said his family lived more than two hours away, he had no car or anyone to take him. Morales knew he wanted to be a jockey, but he was going to have to do it from the school of hard knocks.

He said he finished regular school and came to Louisiana two years ago to work at Evangeline Downs as a hotwalker and then groom, progressing into an exercise rider. He went to Miami with trainer Efren Loza, who also has horses stabled in Kentucky and who brought Morales to Kentucky.

“I wanted to ride races, but it was slow because I didn’t go to the school,” he said. “So I kept learning more and more.”

Morales launched his riding career at Keeneland on Oct. 6, winning for the late Jack Van Berg and his son, Tom, with his fifth mount. He won 17 races at Oaklawn Park over the winter and 11 this spring at Churchill Downs. Also riding at Indiana Grand and occasionally at Mountaineer Park, Morales has 49 victories overall, including a handful of wins at Churchill Downs and Keeneland.

“He’s come a long ways,” Espinoza said. “His brother sent him to me. He’s one of the smartest riders I’ve ever had. He listens, first of all, and he’s naturally intelligent anyways. He’s polite, quiet. Everybody likes him, and that’s a big key.”

Said trainer John Hancock, who teamed with Morales to win a race named for the trainer’s late mother on July 4: “Very talented young man. I’ve drunk the Kool-Aid. He rides two for me (Friday), one Saturday and three on Sunday. He reminds me a lot when Rafael Bejarano got hot.” 

Like Morales, Gilligan won two races on Wednesday then tacked on another one by taking one of the two held Thursday. 

“A good way to get started,” Gilligan said after the races Wednesday. “I had a second and third opening day, and with two wins, great start to the meet. Hopefully it continues now. We’ve got a good bunch of mounts this week, and go to Arlington on Saturday and ride one for Michelle Lovell who has a big shot as well. Everything is going good.”

Gilligan rides Dubby Dubbie, a two-time allowance winner at Churchill Downs, in Arlington Park’s Grade 3 American Derby. The 3-year-old gelding is 5-1 in the morning line for the turf stakes.

The hot trainer is Chris Hartman, who is 3 for 4 with a third. Hartman won Thursday’s first two race and was in the paddock to saddle a third when the remainder of the card was called off because of extreme heat and humidity.