Edwin Maldonado. (Benoit Photo)
Stable Notes By Victor Ryan
ARCADIA, Calif.—Amid a Santa Anita jockey colony featuring multiple Hall of Famers, two winners of the Triple Crown and several Eclipse Award winners, Edwin Maldonado has quietly emerged as the second-leading rider at the Classic Meet
Entering Friday’s action, Maldonado had booted home 12 winners from 74 mounts (16 percent) to rank second in the jockey’s standings behind only runaway leader Juan Hernandez, who has lapped the field with 33 wins. Maldonado will look to keep the good times rolling this week with 15 rides over the next three days
“It’s going great. I love this place,” said the 40-year-old reinsman. “I’m just very happy with the position I’m in. I’ve been here 12 years, and this is probably the toughest meet of them all with so many good riders here this winter. I’m very proud. It’s hard work and not quitting.
During last year’s marathon Winter-Spring Meet at Santa Anita, Maldonado ranked 14th in the standings with 25 wins from 190 mounts. He has nearly halved that total through just 18 days of the current Classic Meet
“Edwin is a great rider,” said Tom Knust, Maldonado’s agent. “He’s just working really hard. Out here early in the morning, working on his craft. He’s been around a long time, but he’s come into his own the past couple of years.
During last year’s fall meet at Santa Anita, Maldonado reached a career milestone when winning his first Grade I aboard Defunded in the Awesome Again Stakes for Bob Baffert. According to Equibase, it came 20 years after Maldonado won his first career race at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, Canada on Aug. 13, 2002
“It was a longtime coming,” said Maldonado, who was born in Ohio and raised in Puerto Rico where his grandfather was a jockey. “That one was very special, especially to be for Bob. When I first came to California in 2001, I remember saying ‘If I can only win a race for Bob. I don’t care if it’s a claimer or what.’ That was one of my dreams.
Maldonado is now looking to take things to the next level. While he’s yet to ride in a Kentucky Derby, Knust noted that is a leading goal for this year
“We’re excited about the future and would certainly like to pick up some type of a Derby horse,” Knust said. “If we could do that and finish in the top three in the standings for the meet, we would be happy.
Among Maldonado’s mounts this week are Satin Doll in Saturday’s Sweet Life Stakes and Broadway Girls in Sunday’s Lady of Shamrock Stakes, both for trainer Doug O’Neill
“While I don’t like to share my goals, I have a lot and I’m getting closer to them every day. I can see them coming,” Maldonado said. “I know I’m going to achieve them. It’s only a matter of time.”
