Jockey Herrera giving U.S. another try

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Jacinto Herrera, something of a legendary jockey in South America, is giving North America another try.

Herrera, a 46-year-old native of Lima, Peru, was to have his first Arlington mount on Saturday. He also has rides on the Sunday card. All are for trainer Ignacio Correas, who came to the U.S. from Argentina after operating a very successful stable there. It’s Correas who has engineered Herrera’s move to Arlington. Herrera won’t have an agent for a time and Correas is the de facto manager of his career.

“He’s won everything in Argentina and Peru,” Correas said. “Every big race he’s won three or four times. I won most of my big races in Argentina with him. Won Group 1’s with him. He was my rider. It’s 20 years later, but he still has something to give.”

Herrera, Correas said, has been riding with success in Peru but plans to stay in the U.S. if things go well.

Herrera tried his luck in Florida in 2014, 2015, and 2016, compiling a record of 21-22-23 from 239 mounts.

“He just wasn’t in the right spot,” Correas said. “He ended up riding a lot of cheap horses.”

Herrera also was just coming back from a layoff of several years necessitated by serious injuries suffered in a bad spill during 2008. Herrera turned to training during his period away from riding before deciding he was ready for more as a jockey. Now, in his mid-40s, he is ready for a new challenge.