Kentucky Derby 2025: Apprentice Moncada has big opportunity in Jeff Ruby

Last summer, jockey agent Joe Paulley stopped by trainer Tom Drury Jr.’s barn several times, seeking to drum up business for his young rider.

“His agent kept checking with me last summer, and he was like, ‘Hey, I’ve got the bug boy if you need anything,’ ” Drury recalled. “And finally, he caught me on the right morning, and I needed some help breezing horses, and I said, ‘Send the bug boy over – now, what’s his name?’ And he said, ‘Irving Moncada.’ And by the time he got to the barn, I forgot his name, so I just called him ‘Bug,’ and it kind of stuck.”

Well, everyone knows Moncada’s name now. The rider Drury affectionately calls Bug is among the leading riders this season at Turfway Park and will attempt to put himself and Drury in their first Kentucky Derby when he rides California Burrito in Saturday’s Grade 3, $777,000 Jeff Ruby, a major-points prep.

“I’ll tell you, I’ve been thrilled for him,” Drury said. “He’s a great kid. He’s practically gotten to be a member of my family, and watching him be so successful this winter, it’s been a lot of fun.”

Moncada, a five-pound apprentice who rode his first race in December 2023 at Turfway, rode California Burrito to win the John Battaglia Memorial on Feb. 22 at Turfway, one day after he and Drury-trained Admit just missed in the Cincinnati Trophy. One race before the Ruby, he and Admit go in its sister race, the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks, which could earn them a spot in the Kentucky Oaks.

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According to Churchill Downs records, the two apprentice riders to win the Derby are Ira Hanford in 1936 with Bold Venture, and Bill Boland in 1950 with Middleground.

“Obviously, after the last stakes races, I had to have a conversation with [the owners] and make sure that going into these bigger races that they wanted to stay where they were at,” Drury said. “Everyone agreed that Irving’s . . . ridden good all winter. I’m looking forward to throwing him up and hoping for the best for all of us.”

California Burrito is one of two stakes winners for Moncada at this meet, as he also won the Turfway Prevue in January with Coming in Hot. Entering Wednesday, he trails only Luan Machado by wins at this portion of the meet that officially began in January, 44 to 36. At the Turfway holiday meet in December, he finished in a tie for second in the standings, as Gerardo Corrales rode 14 winners to 11 each for Machado, Moncada, and Fernando De La Cruz.

Moncada has ridden California Burrito in all his outings at Turfway, including back-to-back wins. But his history with the colt goes beyond that.

“He started breezing him last summer at Churchill as a 2-year-old,” Drury said. “He’s been a big part of it, and I’m thrilled for him and thrilled to see him get this opportunity.”

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