Alex Bregman over the moon with Cadillac Candy, first Thoroughbred winner
A last-gasp victory by Cadillac Candy at even-money in the first race Thursday evening at Churchill triggered mainstream sports-media coverage that it would not have otherwise gotten. That’s because the 2-year-old colt represents the first-ever Thoroughbred winner owned by Alex Bregman, the All-Star third baseman for the Houston Astros.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Bregman said in a locker-room interview posted shortly after the race on Twitter. “My whole family is fired up. Going back to when my grandfather used to take me to the races, it’s just exciting.”
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Cadillac Candy, trained by Rusty Arnold, earned $69,460 by winning the five-furlong maiden-special in 57.90 seconds over a firm turf. The son of Twirling Candy is one of eight horses owned by Bregman Family Racing LLC. Bregman, 28, became a racing fan when growing up in New Mexico.
Pereira with first local win
Tiago “T.J.” Pereira notched his first Churchill victory, rallying aboard Belfast Boy ($8.80) in the sixth race Thursday. Pereira is yet another new arrival to Kentucky after being a mainstay in recent years on the Southern California circuit.
Pereira, 45, was a top rider in his native Brazil and in other countries before coming to ride regularly in the U.S. in 2014. He is best known for winning the 2010 Dubai World Cup on Gloria de Campeao. The win on Belfast Boy for trainer Rick Hiles came in just his third mount since his move.
Gary Stevens, the retired Hall of Fame jockey, is the agent for Pereira as well as for Geovanni Franco, who recently arrived following a productive winter and spring with 29 wins at Oaklawn Park.
* Brodie Wilkes, who had been working as an agent for his brother-in-law, jockey Chris Landeros, has moved to Australia to try to follow in the footsteps of his father, Ian, by pursuing a training career. Landeros has hired Chris Pipito as his new agent.