Apprentice jockey Morales nears meet title

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – This may really happen. A 20-year-old with only a little more than a year of experience is poised to become the leading jockey at the Churchill Downs fall meet, which would mark just the second time an apprentice has pulled such a feat at this ancient track.

Technically, Edgar Morales is no longer an apprentice, having lost his weight allowance following racing here last Friday (14 of 21 days). So an asterisk might have to accompany the asterisk that will denote Morales as just the second “bugboy,” following Julien Leparoux at the 2006 spring meet, to officially win a Churchill riding title. That is assuming Morales can hold on during the final five-day stretch, which begins Wednesday.

Through Sunday, Morales holds a 17-14 lead over Brian Hernandez Jr. atop the standings, with four other riders tied at third with 11 wins each. Obviously there is plenty of action still to go (56 races through meet’s end), so any such calculation might be a bit presumptuous, but Morales is named to ride 29 of the 34 races to be run here Wednesday through Friday.

“Hopefully I’ve got him on a lot of good ones,” said Julio Espinoza, agent for Morales.

Hernandez is named in 24 races the next three days.