Cesar DeAlba saddles first winner

Cesar DeAlba, the retired Quarter Horse jockey turned Thoroughbred trainer, saddled his first winner with his fifth starter when Seven Oxen ($5.80) prevailed by two lengths in a $20,000 claimer for maidens at six furlongs at Los Alamitos on Saturday.

DeAlba retired from riding last December at Los Alamitos and had his first runner at Santa Anita in February.

“It seems like it’s been a long six months,” De Alba said, reflecting on his career change.

DeAlba, 37, won 1,031 Quarter Horse races, including 90 stakes at Los Alamitos. He briefly rode Thoroughbreds on the Southern California daytime circuit in 2002 before focusing on the Los Alamitos night meetings in 2005.

DeAlba has only two horses in training, including an unraced 2-year-old. He plans to be active at the Del Mar summer meeting, but wishes he had more to do.

“I thought it would be a lot easier” to build a stable, he said. “I’m taking my time.

“I’m doing my own work. I groom them. I stay on top of things.”