Puerto Rican trainer Morales take string for Stronach

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Ramon Morales, one of the leading trainers in Puerto Rico, will take up residence on the local backstretch this weekend with a string of 25 horses for track owner Frank Stronach. Morales, who has won more than 1,200 races, including 82 stakes, spent the last several days at Stronach’s Adena Springs Farm in Ocala, Fla., picking the horses he will bring back to Gulfstream for the summer, including a large contingent of 2-year-olds.

Morales began his racetrack career in Florida, working as a groom for trainer Eddie Coletti. He then went to Parx to work for Ron Glorioso before striking out on his own in his native Puerto Rico in 1995. He has won at better than a 25 percent clip in 2014, with 48 victories from 168 starters as of Wednesday.