Diego back aboard Iron Fist for Steve Sexton Mile

Lone Star Park leading rider Iram Diego will be reuniting with one of the best horses he has ever ridden Sunday for the track’s Grade 3, $200,000 Steve Sexton Mile. Iron Fist gave Diego a notable win in February, capturing Sam Houston’s premier dirt race for older horses, the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup.

Iron Fist has since run third in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap and will start as one of the top contenders in the Steve Sexton Mile. Formerly called the Texas Mile, Sunday’s race has drawn a field of nine, including Grade 1 winner Mor Spirit. Mor Spirit, who is based in Southern California, was scheduled to arrive Thursday at Lone Star, trainer Bob Baffert said Wednesday.

Diego rides Iron Fist for Lone Star leading trainer Steve Asmussen. The men have teamed to win 16 of 36 races (44 percent) together over the first two weeks of the meet. During opening week, Diego rode all 11 of his winners for Asmussen.

“It’s unusual for me to win that many for one trainer in one week,” Diego said. “Usually, a rider, whenever he wins from eight to 10 [in a short period], it’s for some different trainers. I’m so happy I got those wins, all of them for him.”

The trend continued last week, when Diego’s five winners all came for Asmussen. The men started working together during the 2016 meet at Sam Houston. Diego won the title and captured it again in 2017.

“Ever since Steve gave me the opportunity, my business has gone up,” Diego said. “He changed everything. This past year, my percentage is so high. For me, I’m really blessed that Steve has given me the opportunity.”

Diego is winning at a 29 percent rate in 2017 and last year had a 19 percent strike rate, the highest of a career launched in 2002.

“I hope it keeps going,” Diego said. “This is a hard business, a lot of ups and downs. This time, right now, it’s going so good. I’m enjoying it.”

Iron Fist was one of two high-profile stakes winners Diego had during Sam Houston’s meet. He also guided the royally bred Union Jackson to an 8 1/4-length win in the $50,000 Sam Houston Sprint Cup in February.

“They’re nice horses,” Diego said. “I guess those two horses are the best horses I’ve ever ridden, I think.”

Iron Fist is a son of Tapit and the mare Successful Outlook. He is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Sweet Lulu and a full brother to Grade 2-winning miler Anchor Down. Iron Fist races for Stonestreet Stables and Regis Racing.

The Steve Sexton Mile will go as the eighth race Sunday at 5:56 p.m. Central. The field, from the rail with riders: Iron Fist, Diego; Mor Spirit, Mike Smith; Carve, Richard Eramia; Great Minds, Colby Hernandez; F J Uncle Vic, Sasha Risenhoover; Shotgun Kowboy, Luis Quinonez; U S Officer, Ernesto Valdez-Jimenez; Texas Chrome, Ricardo Santana Jr.; and American Dubai, Ken Tohill.

Diego has made Lone Star one of his home tracks, along with Sam Houston and Remington Park.

“We bought a house here about a couple of years ago,” he said of north Texas. “I was doing the Louisiana circuit, but I was living here. I was driving every weekend, going to Louisiana Downs, Delta Downs, Fair Grounds, and some Evangeline Downs. So much driving.”

Diego is a 36-year-old native of Guerrero, Mexico. He launched his career in 2002 and had won 968 races from 9,041 starts through Wednesday. His mounts have earned more than $15 million.

“As a rider, I enjoy what I do,” he said. “That has to be the key. You have to like something. I like being around the horses. I like to come out and work horses. We’re all in it for the horses. That’s the reason why we’re here.”

◗ Lone Star puts on a pair of maiden special weights for 2-year-olds Friday night.