Orozco Moving Up Rider Standings List

Irving Orozco is fifth in Santa Anita’s riding standings, with a bullet.

OK, so it’s Irving Daniel Orozco (his friends call him Danny), but by any name, the 20-year-old apprentice from nearby Glendale has caught the eye of horsemen and handicappers alike with his prowess in the saddle. Through 18 days of racing, Orozco has 11 wins, putting him fifth in the standings.

“He’s doing very well,” said his agent, Mike Ciani. “He’s grown up a lot in the last couple months. Obviously, it’s going to be difficult when he loses his ‘bug’ (five-pound apprentice allowance on Feb. 27), but we’ll be fighting for every mount we can get.

“He’s got a good head on his shoulders. He’s got a couple things that can’t be taught: he knows how to place horses in the right spots in races, and I think he’s got the mechanics and potential to be any kind of rider.”