The leading apprentice jockeys at the last two Oaklawn Park meetings -- Katie Clawson in 2017 and Edgar Morales in 2018 -- were also both finalists for an Eclipse Award as the country's top apprentice.
At least two apprentice jockeys are scheduled to regularly ride at the 2019 Oaklawn meeting that begins Friday, including Luis Fuentes, previously based in Southern California.
Fuentes, 18, is now represented by agent Joe Santos, the son of retired Hall of Fame jockey Jose Santos. He rode his first winner on March 27, 2018, at his hometown track, Sunland Park, in El Paso, Texas.
Why Oaklawn?
"The money," Fuentes said.
Santos also represents journeymen David Cabrera and Israel Rodriguez. He said Fuentes reached out to him late last year about taking his book.
"I felt like there was some room for a bug and I had enough business to make it happen," Santos said.
"I think it's gone pretty successful so far. We've worked about nine horses each day since he's been here and picking up a lot of attention."
Fuentes said he has two older brothers who are jockeys. He will begin the Oaklawn meeting with a 7-pound weight allowance.
Santos said he believes Norman McKnight, Oaklawn's co-seventh-leading trainer in 2018, will give Fuentes some opportunities early in the meeting.
"He rode a lot of bug riders over in Canada," Santos said of McKnight, Woodbine's leading trainer the last two years. "That's kind of my idea behind it.
"He mentioned to me that he was looking for an apprentice. He mentioned that he and his owners would like to take weight off a good amount of the horses. Kind of got my brain thinking and went from there."
According to Equibase, racing's official data gathering organization, Fuentes has 28 career victories and purse earnings of $751,590.
Also scheduled to ride regularly at the 2019 Oaklawn meeting is 7-pound apprentice Ezequiel Lara, who is represented by retired jockey Francisco Torres.
Sports on 01/19/2019