Contreras hires new agent

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Two-time Sovereign Award-winning jockey Luis Contreras and agent Anthony Esposito have parted ways, Esposito said Monday.

“He told me that he was going to make a change,” Esposito said. “I’m ready to move on. I’ve been doing this for 25 years and I’m not ready to retire yet. Hopefully I’ll get a new job from here or I’ll look into bringing a fresh face to Woodbine again.”

Contreras will now be represented by Don Parente, who also has the book of journeyman rider Sheena Ryan.

“I’m excited for the opportunity,” Parente said. “I’ve had a leading rider before, and once you do it once, you always want to do it again.”

Contreras has been one of the leading jockeys at Woodbine since arriving here in 2009. Contreras has led all Woodbine jockeys in wins in each of the past three seasons, including in 2011 when he captured his first Sovereign Award for outstanding jockey in a season that saw him find the winner’s circle 212 times. He also won in his first Queen’s Plate on Inglorious in 2011 and won each leg of the Canadian Triple Crown that season, capturing the Prince of Wales and Breeders’ Stakes with Pender Harbour. Contreras won this year’s Breeders’ Stakes with Ami’s Holiday.

The 28-year old Mexican-born jockey has won 1,265 races, including 74 stakes, and has career purse earnings of $53.6 million. He sits second in the Woodbine jockey standings in both wins and earnings this season with 132 victories and purse earnings of $6.5 million.