Add David Cabrera to the growing list of riding newcomers at the 2018 Oaklawn meeting, scheduled to begin Friday.
Agent Joe Santos said Thursday morning that he will represent Cabrera, who won 197 races last year to rank 19th nationally, according to Equibase, racing's official data gathering organization.
Cabrera said he normally rides at Sam Houston in the winter and is anxious to test his skills at Oaklawn for the first time.
"I wanted to try it pretty bad," Cabrera said Thursday morning. "Since last year, I've really wanted to come here very bad."
Cabrera finished second in the rider standings last year at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa, and third at the recently concluded Remington Park meeting in Oklahoma City, Okla.. The rider said he hopes to have some business at Oaklawn for, among others, Ron Moquett, of Hot Springs.
Santos also represents newcomer C.J. McMahon. Other new newcomers to the riding colony include Hall of Famer Gary Stevens, Alan Garcia, David Cohen, Edwin Maldonado, Fernando De La Cruz, Rodney Prescott, Fabio Arguello Jr., Donnie Meche, Mike Luzzi, Dean Sarvis and Alonso Quinonez.
Agent Gene Short, of Hot Springs, said the reason for all the new blood is simple. It's all about Oaklawn's lucrative purse structure.
"It's just strictly because of the money," said Short, who represents Alex Canchari, Oaklawn's co-third-leading rider last year, and Luzzi. "Where else are you going to get a $75,000 (maiden) special weight? It will be interesting to see how long everybody stays."
Ricardo Santana Jr. is seeking his sixth consecutive Oaklawn riding title.
Sports on 01/06/2018