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Mojica Sets New Record For Most Jockey Titles
Orlando Mojica will complete the 2009 racing season with a new track record to his credit. The native of Puerto Rico will earn his fourth title in the 15-year history of the track, making him the first jockey to win four titles. Fernando De La Cruz is in second place with 50 wins over Emanuel Cosme in third with 48 wins.
Mojica first came into the picture in Indiana in 2003 to win the title. He returned to the top of the leader board in 2007, winning three consecutive titles through this year. He is also among the top five riders all time at the Anderson, Ind. track.
“It’s nice to be the first jockey to win four titles,” said Mojica. “It’s something special. Records are made to be broken, but right now, I’m going to enjoy it. This year was a little tougher than last year. The purses are better and the competition is tougher. But I work really hard and my agent, Jimmy McNerney, works hard too. We are a team and he tries to get me on the best horses.”
Prior to Mojica’s four titles, Jon Court led the record for most titles by a jockey. Court dominated the ranks from 1996 through 1998 before making the move to the Kentucky circuit and later onto the southern California circuit.
“I’ve had a good year here in Indiana,” said Mojica. “We have decided to take a chance and my agent and Victor Lebron and I are going to New Orleans for the upcoming Fair Grounds meet. I want to try and see how we can do down there before coming back to Indiana in the spring.”
In addition to a repeat performance by Mojica, trainer Steve Manley earned his second leading trainer title in 2009. Based at Fairmount Park, Manley has saddled 46 winners through the first 61 days of the meet to lead the standings over Kim Hammond, who has 28 wins.
Leading apprentice jockey honors require 10 wins to determine a winner in that category. Nestor Maldanado heads into the final two days of racing with nine wins to near the title.
Leading owner honors for 2009 is a little tighter for the title. Heading into the last two days of action, Louis O’Brien is one win ahead of Ron McKay’s M.Y. Stables. O’Brien has earned leading owner honors for the past six years. The honor for McKay would be his first leading owner title at Hoosier Park.
In Quarter Horse racing, Harold Collins and Julie Veltman are tied atop the jockey standings with 10 wins apiece. Carter Riley and Victor Olivo are tied in second place with nine wins, bringing the race into the final day of racing to declare the leading jockey for 2009.
Ron Raper is ahead in the trainer standings for Quarter Horses with 15 wins. Raper has three titles to his credit, winning top honors in 2005 through 2007.
