FAIRPLEX : Flores Shut Out, but Wins Sixth Consecutive Title

When David Flores was thrown from his mount after the end of Sunday’s ninth race at Fairplex Park, it also ended the remote chance he had of breaking his meet record of 48 victories.

But nothing was further from his mind as he felt a twinge of pain in his right hip and took the rest of the afternoon off.

“I just wanted to make sure I could ride the last day,” said the 26-year-old native of Tijuana, who prides himself on being ready to ride any time and at any track.

Unlike the top riders, who usually take some time off during the 19-day meeting at Pomona, Flores likes to stay busy.

It has paid dividends for him at Fairplex, where he was shut out for the first time on Monday’s closing day card but still wound up with 42 victories to win his sixth consecutive Fairplex riding title.

Fernando Valenzuela, second with 32 winners, rode Luxury Box to an upset over Southern Tempo and Flores in the $50,000 Fairplex Breeders’ Cup Stakes. Now it’s back to riding with the big boys at Santa Anita in the Oak Tree meet that will begin Wednesday.

“Now it’s back to scrambling to get some live horses,” said Flores, who has no such problems at Fairplex. “Better horses make you a better rider. Of course, the rider has to do his part, but you really need good horses to be consistent.”

Flores is proud of the fact that until the final day, he had at least one winner each day.

It can be hard on jockeys who ride a lot of favorites because fans are critical of them if they have a prolonged losing streak.

There’s nothing complicated about the Flores formula for winning on the five-eighths-mile track with the tight turns.

“I just go all out on every race,” Flores said. “I’m trying to win with every horse and if I can get them out quickly, I have a chance to get to the wire first.”

Flores believes the strategy can work at Santa Anita too, if he can get better horses to ride.

Fairplex Notes

Southern Wish, winner of the Pomona Handicap, was voted horse of the meet by members of the media. Vladimir Cerin won the training title with 10 winners from 21 starters.