Santa Anita Park notes: Apprentice rider Asa Espinoza all smiles
With a disarming smile and eager work ethic, 18-year-old apprentice Asa Espinoza is on the move, evidenced by the fact he’s won with his last four mounts, two on Thursday and another pair on Friday, culminating with trainer Peter Miller’s Palace Paynter ($7.40) in yesterday’s fourth race.
“He won those four races for four different trainers,” said Brian Beach, agent for the fledgling Espinoza and his Hall of Fame uncle, Victor. “It’s pretty unusual for an apprentice these days to start here at Santa Anita. Usually, when a bug boy comes here, they’ve ridden 60, 80 or more races at lesser tracks.
“He’s a quick learner. He’s focused on one thing, and that’s being a jockey. People are noticing his progression and we’ve got more and more trainers asking us to work horses in the morning. They’re looking to the future and they can see that he’s improving every day.”
After winning with his fourth consecutive mount in Friday’s fourth race, Michael Wrona exclaimed, “Asa’s Acing It!”
With six wins through eight Spring Meet racing days, Espinoza is currently a joint second in the jockey standings, three behind Flavien Prat while tied with Stewart Elliott and Giovanni Franco.
“It’s a results-oriented business,” said Beach. “The more he wins, the more things pick up. And, people like him. Vladimir Cerin says he’s got a smile that can overcome bad weather.”
Not a bad attribute for a bug boy who’s also got name recognition and plenty of talent in his corner.
FINISH LINES: Agent Tora Yamaguchi reports that Rafael Bejarano will begin working horses next week and be ready to ride competitively the following week after recovering from a fractured left wrist in a riding mishap last March 18. Peruvian native Bejarano, who turns 36 on June 23, had 29 wins from 181 mounts at the recent Winter Meet before his injury . . . Santiago Gonzalez will move his tack to Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota, on Monday to ride full time there, according to his agent at Santa Anita, Tommy Ball, now back with Israel Ocampo, who rides Anatolian Heat for Peter Miller in Sunday’s San Simeon Stakes. Gonzalez, a 34-year-old native of Venezuela, has two wins from 11 mounts through eight days of the Spring Meet and was 11 for 114 at the Winter Meet. Ocampo had been sidelined since last October after undergoing surgery for a broken left thumb . . . Champion Unique Bella went five furlongs for Jerry Hollendorfer in 1:01.20 Saturday, while promising sprinter American Pastime had his first breeze since being sidelined with a bruise to his right coffin bone following the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last Nov. 4. American Pastime went three furlongs in 37.60 for trainer Bob Hess Jr. They were but two of 220 recorded workouts at Santa Anita, including 19 on the training track, where Skye Diamonds went six furlongs in 1:14.20 for Bill Spawr. . . Brian Beach, agent for Victor Espinoza and his nephew, hot-riding apprentice Asa Espinoza, will be Tom Quigley’s guest handicapper 10:20 a.m. Sunday in the East Paddock Gardens.