Coming to Ohio has been Paucar's best move

River Downs in Cincinnati is a long way from Suffolk Downs in East Boston, Mass., and even farther from Lima, Peru. But that is the route that Edgar Paucar took to get to River Downs, and on Sunday he won six races there.

Paucar, 34, grew up in Lima and attended the jockey school there. It is the same school that produced Jorge Chavez, Edgar Prado, and Rafael Bejarano, who began his career at River Downs.

Paucar came to the U.S. and first rode at Penn National in 2002. He then went to New England, riding at Northampton and Suffolk Downs. He was befriended by a veteran jockey who hailed from Cincinnati, Vernon Bush. Bush tried to convince Paucar to come to Ohio, where Bush thought he would have more opportunity. In 2004, Paucar finally came to Ohio and it proved to be the best move he could have made.

In the past 4 1/2 years, Paucar has won more than 1,150 races at Beulah Park, River Downs, and nearby Turfway Park. He has blossomed into a well-respected rider in Ohio.

When Paucar won with six of his seven mounts Sunday it was a first for him. The feat that has been accomplished by only two other riders in River Downs's 85-year-history.

Paucar said, "What a great feeling! I have ridden five winners in a day at Beulah, but never six."