Breeders' Cup: Julio Garcia playing big role in Golden Pal's success
More than three decades ago, Julio Garcia and Wesley Ward were both leading apprentice jockeys. Ward, who won the Eclipse Award for leading apprentice in 1984, was based on the East Coast, and Garcia rode in Southern California.
After their race-riding days, both settled into a niche in Kentucky. Ward has made a reputation for conditioning precocious and globe-trotting runners; Garcia is his head work rider and plays an integral role in the horses’ development.
Ward’s Breeders’ Cup contingent, based year-round at Keeneland, includes Turf Sprint favorite Golden Pal and Juvenile Turf Sprint contender Love Reigns. Garcia was aboard both for final breezes last weekend.
Golden Pal is known for showing immense speed, but this past summer at Saratoga he showed a new dimension. Golden Pal broke a step slowly in the Grade 3 Troy Stakes, relaxed behind a couple of horses, and then rallied to win by a head. Ward credited much of that performance to Garcia’s day-to-day work with the colt, noting that Garcia regularly works Golden Pal behind horses.
Garcia, for his part, has watched Golden Pal develop every step of the way, from a well-bred and promising colt who came to the barn early on into a two-time Breeders’ Cup winner. Golden Pal took the 2020 Juvenile Turf Sprint and 2021 Turf Sprint, and will be a strong favorite for this year’s Turf Sprint.
“He always feels great,” Garcia said. “I think he’s the best horse
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