Oaklawn: Arroyo gets off to great start

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. has two goals for the Oaklawn meet that began last Friday: win the jockeys’ title and find a 3-year-old who can take him to the Kentucky Derby.

He made significant inroads toward those objectives over last week’s three-day opener, when he went 6 for 13 to take the early lead in the standings. Arroyo’s winners included an impressive pair of 3-year-olds in Bourbonize, now 2 for 2 following an allowance win Friday, and Paganol, who overcame adversity to win his debut in a maiden race Saturday.

“I couldn’t ask for a better opening day, going 4 for 4, then winning a race each day after that,” Arroyo said. “I couldn’t ask for anything better. I think Oaklawn is a great place to get a good 3-year-old now that the purses have gone up. There’s a lot of 3-year-old races, a lot of opportunities to get a good horse.”

Arroyo, 36, is rebuilding a once-promising career in which he led all New York Racing Association riders in wins in 2000 and won graded stakes with such horses as New York Hero, Scrappy T, and Biogio’s Rose. But his roll came to a halt in 2009 following an arrest on a drug-possession charge, one of Arroyo's several run-ins with the law.

Arroyo served just more than a year on a 2 1/2-year prison sentence, his time reduced due to completion of a “military boot camp” type of program, he said. He was relicensed as an exercise rider in Kentucky in May 2012 and, about six months later, was reinstated as a jockey, with a conditional license that stipulated he not leave Kentucky for a year, through Nov. 29, 2013, he said. Arroyo is now riding outside of Kentucky for the first time in years.

“I’m very grateful to the Arkansas Racing Commission and the stewards that granted me a license, and also the Kentucky Racing Commission, which got me started,” Arroyo said. “This is an opportunity to rebuild my career. I’ve got to take baby steps. What happened with me was a huge mistake I’ve taken responsibility for. My wife and I, we’ve just decided to give our lives to the Lord and let Him guide us.”

Bourbonize was making his two-turn debut last Friday and rolled home by four lengths for trainer Kellyn Gorder. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82.

“He’s a very, very nice horse, and there’s no telling how good he can get,” Arroyo said. “He’s still learning how to run. He was an easy ride. He did everything on his own. There wasn’t much I had to do. I just put him in position, and he took care of me after that.”

Paganol, meanwhile, won a sprint in his debut. He earned a Beyer of 76.

“That’s a real good horse,” Arroyo said. “He overcame a lot of obstacles in that race. First of all, he gets left. He didn’t break that good, and the horses next to me didn’t break that good, either. They were a tiny bit of ahead of me, and he was squeezed out of the gate. He overcame all of that, then on the turn for home put away two horses on the inside of him.”

Arroyo said Paganol then withstood the bid of a fresh horse on his outside, fighting back for a nose win. Paganol is by Tiz Wonderful, and Arroyo said he looks forward to when the colt moves to two turns.

“I think that’s going to be his preference,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo, who knows young talent, having guided 2001 Arkansas Derby winner Balto Star to an 11-length maiden special weight win, rode Paganol for trainer Cody Autrey. Arroyo and Autrey won three races together last Friday, and have several leading contenders together Thursday.

Arroyo said he is enjoying the local atmosphere in Hot Springs, and working with one of the meet’s top agents in Gene Short.

“I like this town,” Arroyo said. “It’s a great town. Everybody loves racing. They make you feel welcome. I’m already looking forward to coming back again next year.”

◗ Son of a Preacher is possible for the $150,000 Smarty Jones for 3-year-olds at a mile on Monday, said his trainer, Bret Calhoun.