Alonso Quinonez

Born: November 13, 1983 | Birthplace: Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico | Residence: Ocala, FL

First Win: Life’s Crown, Churchill Downs, 2006 | Started Riding: 2006, Louisiana Downs Circuit: Tampa Bay Downs, Canterbury Park, Hawthorne, Prairie Meadows

Quinonez reached the coveted 1,000-victory mark on June 25 at Canterbury Park aboard 4-year-old gelding Magic Castle for trainer Joel Berndt. Quinonez comes from a race-riding family. Luis Quinonez, the oldest of three brothers, has ridden more than 3,900 winners and still competes at Oaklawn Park, Lone Star and Remington. Middle brother Belen Quinonez retired in 2017 with 838 victories. Alonso rode in California from 20072019, forging a reputation as a big-money performer. He found his “dream horse” in 2008, winning three Grade I stakes at Santa Anita, Churchill Downs and Saratoga on a 4-year-old filly named Intangaroo for trainer Gary Sherlock. Additional Grade I triumphs for the rider came in 2010 on Richard’s Kid in the Goodwood Stakes and Tell a Kelly in the Darley Debutante Stakes. Another big victory came on 3-year-old Premier Pegasus in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita in 2011. Among Quinonez’s 25 victories at Tampa Bay Downs last season was a thrilling neck triumph aboard 5-year-old gelding Drama Chorus in the Florida Cup Grey Goose Turf Classic. Quinonez tied for fourth in the Canterbury Park standings with 45 winners, including a pair of stakes victories on 4-year-old gelding Thealligatorhunter for trainer, co-breeder and co-owner Tim Padilla. Quinonez rode in Saudi Arabia in 2015 and 2016 on various weekends.