Columnist Ralph Siraco: Espinoza strikes Gold aboard Early Pioneer

Ralph Siraco

Monday, July 10, 2000 | 9:55 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday, and his Southern California selections run Tuesday through Friday on the scoreboard page. Reach him c/o Las Vegas Sun, 800 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107.

Jockey Victor Espinoza is in the zone.

He's sizzling.

He's "the goods."

He's "the man."

When you're hot, you're hot; and when you're not, right now you're not Victor Espinoza.

The 28-year-old jockey is the leading man on the Southern California racing scene. He is currently atop the rider standings at Hollywood Park with 49 victories, a half-dozen more than nearest rival Corey Nakatani, and is second in stakes wins at the stand.

Chris McCarron, who has 10, has accounted for four more stakes victories than Espinoza, but after Sunday's sizzling display, the meet's top jock could give his Hall of Fame elder a run for the added-money category as well before the meet comes to a close on July 24.

Sunday at Hollywood Park, Espinoza won the biggest race of his young career. The Mexico City native won the $1 million Hollywood Gold Cup aboard long shot Early Pioneer.

Espinoza then came back to cap his finest day in the saddle by guiding Elaborate to victory in the $300,000-added Triple Bend Handicap on the biggest day of the Hollywood Park meeting.

Both prices were nice. Early Pioneer returned $51 to win in his Grade I upset while Elaborate paid $22.40 for his Grade II win mutuel.

But more significant than the money was the talent the young rider displayed in gaining the victories on what most considered to be outsiders.

The 2000 spring/summer Hollywood Park meet, and Sunday's Hollywood Gold Cup day, may very well prove a turning point in the career of a jockey who looks to be a budding star.

Espinoza, who stands 5-foot-2, has been a professional rider for just eight years. He broke his maiden in 1992 at Hippodrome de las Americas in his native land. His talents soon took him to Northern California, and after finishing second in the jockey standings to Northern California kingpin Russell Baze in 1995, Espinoza ventured to the much tougher Southern California circuit the following year.

Espinoza's big break came shortly thereafter, when agent Tony Matos agreed to schedule his riding engagements. The high-profile agent also books the riding assignments for Kent Desormeaux, who won this year's Kentucky Derby on Fusaichi Pegasus.

Late last year, before his rise to the top, Espinoza filled in for Desormeaux on a nice horse in a maiden race at Hollywood Park. It was the sixth race on December 11, a six-furlong event. The horse fell just a nose short of breaking his maiden at first asking.

His name was Fusaichi Pegasus.

Coast Resorts director of race book operations Robert "Muggsy" Muniz will offer a free handicapping contest on the first five races at Belmont Park Wednesday to celebrate the Handicapalooza seminar. The winner or winners will take down a $1000 first prize. All the festivities start at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the race book.