EMERALD DOWNS
Page 14 • Wednesday, April 17, 2013
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2013 EMERALD DOWNS
Gutierrez wins for his daughter Gutierrez graduates from the University of California, Davis with a degree in speech therapy. For the past 10 years, jockey “I’m very proud of my Juan Gutierrez has ridden with daughter,” Gutierrez said, “and one goal in mind. everything I do right now is for It hasn’t been the pursuit of her.” the crown jewel of Gutierrez started the Emerald Downs “I’m very proud of riding as a boy in racing season, the my daughter, and Mexico. Longacres Mile, “My grandfather everything I do right although he’s manwas a farmer, so he now is for her.” aged to snag two of had horses,” GutierJuan Gutierrez them – aboard No rez said. “And the Giveaway in 2005 racetrack in Mexico and with The Great City was five minutes Face in 2007. from my parents’ Nor has it been the prestigious house. So I had two uncles who season riding title, an honor were trainers also. I grew up Gutierrez added to his list of ac- around horses.” complishments in 2012 when he At the age of 16 he began set a torrid pace, winning 26.5 competing in Mexico, notching percent of his starts on the way his first win aboard Glorious to a 117-win season. Beauty. For the 43-year-old MexicoSoon, Gutierrez was drawn to born rider, the goal has been the United States. much more personal, accord“I first came up to be an ing to Gutierrez’ agent, Keith exercise rider,” he said. “There Drebin. were more opportunities. I rode “He’s been focused on putting at Los Alamitos (in Southern his daughter through college,” California).” Drebin said. After a brief retirement from This year that goal comes to riding, Gutierrez pulled up fruition when 21-year-old Tania stakes and moved to the Pacific By Shawn Skager
sskager@auburn-reporter.com
Jockey Juan Gutierrez, aboard Class Included wins the $50,000 Boeing Handicap on July 8, 2012 . Gutierrez guided Class Included to the Top Older Filly or Mare honors last season. COURTESY PHOTO, Erin Palmer, Emerald Downs Northwest in 2000 to begin his Emerald Downs career as an exercise rider for trainers Howard Belvoir and Ricardo Perez. “I decided to ride again up here because it was what I loved,” he said. “And Howard said he was going to give me a chance to ride up here.” The move agreed with Gutierrez, who has finished in the top 10 every year since 2002. He is second in career Emerald
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And coming into this season, Gutierrez said he’s feeling good and focused on competing for another title. “I feel OK right now,” he said. “I’m healthy so I’ll keep riding. I don’t have any plans to stop. I’ll ride until God says you stop, but right now I don’t have any plans. I feel really good. I had a great season last year, and this season is going to be better.”
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Downs wins with 955. Last season he shone with a riding title. “I think we started out right riding nice horses,” Gutierrez said. “And I think we were a little lucky. But we started good, and we finished good. It feels good (to win the title). I tried for a few years and finally last year we did it. Thanks to Keith Drebin, my agent, picker of the right horses.”