Jara returns to U.S. with hot start at Sam Houston

Too Much Kiki had an elite rider on her back last Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park when she won a $75,000 division of the Texas Stallion Stakes under Fernando Jara.

That’s the same Jara who won the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Classic and 2007 Dubai World Cup with Invasor and the 2006 Belmont Stakes with Jazil. The 36-year-old native of Panama is now based at Sam Houston after competing overseas. Jara won three races opening weekend and is tied for second in the standings, while leading all riders in earnings.

“He’s been in Dubai the last nine years, riding over there,” said agent Jose Santos Jr. “He’s back in the U.S. trying to make it again on a big scale.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

“He was looking for a place to get started, and start winning. I knew he had the talent. It was getting him the right mounts to show off that talent. Luckily, he started off pretty hot. I think he’ll be quite popular.”

Jara had a handful of mounts in Florida and Louisiana prior to the start of the Sam Houston meet, and was to have ridden at Tampa Bay Downs on Wednesday.

Santos said while overseas, Jara won the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint aboard the Doug O’Neill-trained Wildman Jack. Jara also had mounts in the Dubai World Cup.

Santos is the son of Hall of Fame rider Jose Santos and Jara was the first rider the elder Santos represented when spending time working as an agent. The younger Santos had the opportunity to begin booking mounts for Jara late last year.

“I’ve known Fernando since I was a little kid,”’ Santos said. “My dad had been really close friends with him since he was an apprentice.”

Kiaran McLaughlin, who trained Invasor, helped coordinate the Jara and Santos Jr. connection for the rider’s return to the U.S., said Santos Jr.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.