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Jockey Paco Lopez celebrates after winning his 4000th race aboard Governor Sam at Keeneland. |
Jockey Paco Lopez notched career win number 4,000 in the eighth race at Keeneland on Sunday October 6 aboard 5-2 favorite Governor Sam for trainer George Weaver and owners Bregman Family Racing and Swinbank Stables in the $250,000 Indian Summer Stakes presented by Keeneland Select, a 5 1/2 furlong turf sprint for 2-year-olds, after notching his 3,999th win a week on Friday October 4 at Gulfstream Park. He was winless in 4 mounts at Keeneland on Saturday and finished ninth in the 5th race Sunday before finally reaching the milestone. Lopez put the 7-4 favorite on the lead immediately while pressed by 10-1 Floodlights (with Gerardo Corrales aboard), then held off late-running 17-2 Out On Bail (Luis Saez rode) to win by a neck in 1:02.72 over firm going. He is just the 85th jockey to reach the 4,000 win mark, and is one of 27 still active.
Paco Lopez in the winner's circle after the hitting 4000 wins. |
Paco Lopez wins the 2018 Breeders' Cup Sprint aboard Roy H. |
His best horse to date is Roy H, winner of $1,597,500 with Lopez aboard, including the 2018 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Churchill Downs. (Roy H also won the 2017 Sprint at Del Mar but Kent Desormeaux rode). Close behind is Itsmyluckyday, winner of $941,240 including the 2014 Woodward Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, and Pants On Fire, winner of $786,075 including the 2013 Monmouth Cup (G2). The 2018 Sprint is Lopez's only Breeders' Cup win, go to with 2nd place finishes in the 2019 Juvenile Turf on Billy Batts and the 2017 Dirt Mile on Sharp Azteca. He rode Wrecking Crew (2019 Juvenile) and Pants on Fire (2014 Dirt Mile) to third place finishes.
Paco Lopez aboard Lord Miles after winning the 2023 Wood Memorial. |
Last week as the 4,000th win drew closer, Lopez said, "It's been a lot of hard work and it seems like it was a long way to get to this point, and I have done it almost the entire time with Cory Moran as my agent. It will be a nice accomplishment to get to 4,000. I started riding at 21 in this country. I'm 38 now. I'm feeling a little old. My motivation is to win races. It doesn't matter where. And I am trying to win every race I ride."The thing I am most proud of is my consistency. It's like any job. You have to be consistent with what you do. I feel I have been consistent. If you combine that with hard work good things will happen. Nothing is given to you. My son is really excited about it. But for me it's just a number. I just want to keep riding and keep winning."
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