Jockey Tiago Pereira leaps into the top ten at Santa Anita
With six wins over the last four racing days, jockey Tiago Periera and his agent, Patty Sterling, are enjoying the fruits of their labors.
Periera has leaped into the top 10 in Santa Anita’s standings with eight victories. The 40-year-old native of Brazil’ gained his signature win in 2010 when he captured the $10 million Dubai World Cup by a nose aboard 25-1 shot Gloria De Campeao.
“He’s very easy to work for and he likes to work hard,” said Sterling, whose father, the late Larry Sterling, Sr., trained 1978 Santa Anita Handicap winner, Vigors, has represented Pereira since last March. “That makes it easy. My whole family’s been in racing for a long time. My Dad trained horses, my uncle (former jockey and current Santa Anita’s Quick Official) Larry Gilligan used to ride, my Uncle Terry (Gilligan, former Santa Anita racing announcer) used to ride and train.
“When you win like we are now, it makes things easier, but every day’s a battle. It’s not much different from training horses, really. It’s very competitive, just like trainers trying to get new owners and better horses.
“It’s the same for an agent, trying to ride better horses, get in more barns and get more clients.”
So far, so good.
FINISH LINES: Congrats to trainer Gary Sherlock, who has won with four of his last five starters, including Lob City ($5.40) in Thursday’s sixth race. “Just been lucky and putting them in the right spots,” said Sherlock, who has 9-2 morning line chance Lookin At Mossy against 4-5 choice Vibe in today’s second heat . . . Jose Cuevas was at Clockers’ Corner Friday visiting with old chums. The Dominican Republic native formerly worked with the late Bobby Frankel and Ron McAnally, legendary Hall of Fame members each, and is here with Paola Queen for Venezuelan trainer Gustavo Delgado. The three-year-old daughter of Flatter won the Grade I Test at seven furlongs, the same distance as next Saturday’s $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint, for which she is ticketed . . . McAnally, meanwhile, has San Juan Capistrano winner Quick Casablanca on course for the Grade II Marathon Stakes at 1 ¾ miles on dirt next Friday. “He’s won on grass, but he can run on dirt,” McAnally said of Quick Casablanca, who worked seven furlongs Thursday in a bullet 1:26.80. Tyler Baze rides in the Marathon . . . The Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP) has announced the following winners of the 2016 Pete Pedersen Award, presented to stewards who have made important contributions to the Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred industries: Peter Kosiba Jr., Calvin Rainey, Michael Corey, Dennis Nevin and Jerry Burgess. The recipients will be recognized Tuesday, Dec. 6, at the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program’s Global Symposium on Racing and Gaming in Tucson . . . Jockey Fernando Perez has been suspended three days (Nov. 3, 4 and 5) for causing interference on Whistle Pretty in Thursday’s fifth race.
Source: Santa Anita Park