Perdomo Returns; La Croix Retires
The same week that David LaCroix announced his retirement from training after a 33-year career, Pico Perdomo was back in action with his first United States starter in seven years.
“I’m a little rusty, but I’m getting there,” quipped Perdomo with owners Ron and Barbara Perry after sending out recent claim My Man Sumo to a sixth-place finish in a $12,500 claiming race Saturday.
Perdomo, who turns 68 this summer, returned this spring to the Hollywood base, where he currently conditions 10 horses, at which he gained fame with 2001 Eclipse Award-winning female Gourmet Girl and triple graded stakes winner Stalwart Charger in 1990.
“This is where I trained my first winner in 1977, El Glorioso, the same day Seattle Slew lost his first race in the Swaps,” said Perdomo, recalling the huge crowd.
Perdomo is back from a globe-trotting career change. He first switched careers to a bloodstock agent and spent much time in his native Uruguay, where he began on the racetrack as a jockey. Last year he accepted an offer to train in Saudi Arabia, but in September suffered a heart attack and underwent coronary surgery. He is happy to be back home in Mar Vista and in his old barn, 63 South.
LaCroix, 56, went out on a winning note Wednesday, saddling Drink at Buster’s to a 22-1 upset in a maiden race for 2-year-olds.
LaCroix, who has named several horses after restaurants and bars, explained that Buster’s is a bar near the Queen Mary in Long Beach that starter Gary Brinson recommended.
LaCroix explained that he had given extensive thought to retirement as a trainer although he will remain active as a small-time owner and breeder for his Meadowbrook stable.
“The stable wasn’t making money the last two years,” said LaCroix. “I want to get expenses down by closing down the racing operation.”
LaCroix said he sold Meadowbrook Farm in Ocala, Fla., in 2006 but still owns four horses in training, five broodmares and three yearlings.
“I may do a little pinhooking,” said LaCroix. “I’m going to turn ‘Buster’ over to Marty Jones. Two others will go to Mike Mitchell, and one to Mike Machowsky.”
LaCroix said he will divide the year between California, where he is moving from Manhattan Beach to Playa del Rey, and Florida, where his mother, Barbara, lives.
LaCroix wondered where the time had flown since he saddled the first winner of his career here on July 13, 1978. “Striding Out with Henry Moreno up,” said LaCroix as though it was yesterday.
LaCroix, who saddled 413 winners from 3,678 starts for earnings of $9,771,024, enjoyed stakes success here, from Unpredictable in the 1981 Haggin and 1982 National Sprint Championship, to Ticketed in the 1981 Hollywood Lassie, to Fonz’s in the 2001 Hollywood Prevue, to Corazondelcampeon in the 2006 Harry Henson.
“First they called me the young David LaCroix, later they just called me David LaCroix, then they didn’t call me at all,” concluded LaCroix in his self-deprecating sense of humor.