Jockey Cerapio Figueroa wins three races at Sonoma County Fair

Apprentice jockey Cerapio Figueroa was the hero for long-shot players on Thursday's opening program at the Sonoma County Fair.|

HOWARD SENZELL

FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

July 28, 2016

Howard's hunches

1st race: Jess Is On Fire, Zells Bells, Raineing Sand

2nd race: Tight Lines, Milady Maid, Kuuipo

3rd race: Tiz Point, Indian Brut, Infosec

4th race: -Judge Henry, Doowop Sheedo, Tom's Golden Girl

5th race: Gloria's Angelo, Holdthismiss, Gold Chaser

6th race: Singing, Hula Girl, Tizza Tigress

7th race: Ninnavee, Triple Drama, Another Winter

8th race: She's Flush, Frandontjudge, Seattle Firm

Best Bets: $5 win each on Tiz Point (3rd), Judge Henry (4th), Gloria's Angel (5th), Singing (6th).

Keeping track: 1 winner in 8 races. Minus $20.

Apprentice jockey Cerapio Figueroa was the hero for long-shot players on Thursday’s opening program at the Sonoma County Fair.

The 20-year-old rode three winners on the eight-race program and all paid double digits for a $2 win ticket. Figueroa began the most successful day of his career by guiding Ozark Kaolena ($27.60) to victory in the second race which was for Arabian horses. Next, he struck in the fourth aboard Perfect Manners ($16.40), and then two races later he lit up the tote board by guiding Time To Go Robo ($44.20) to victory. His last two winners were in thoroughbred races.

Figueroa moved his tack to Northern California last November and began the day with 12 lifetime winners. Before coming north, he rode at Parx (Pennsylvania), Emerald Downs (Washington), Prairie Meadows (Iowa) and Santa Anita (Southern California).

The Los Angeles native showed his versatility by winning on the lead and coming from behind.

“The track is in great shape,” he said. “It seems you can win on or off the pace.”

Joanie Orr-Beach, who trains Perfect Manners, also saddled the winner of the mule race. Price Check was an easy winner of the first. Orr-Beach is the daughter of the late trainer Ike Orr.

There was nearly a triple deadheat in the second. Ozark Kaolena prevailed by a nose over Duchess AA with My Charade another nose back in third.

NOTES

It’s not often that a Jerry Hollendorfer-trained horse pays big, but it happened on Thursday. Implicated won the featured seventh race under jockey Catalino Martinez and paid $34.60. Runner-up Tim’s Go Girl was claimed out of the race for $25,000 by trainer Alfredo Marquez.

The first turf race of the meet was the fifth and Mark Enlow’s Sizzlin’ Joe got home on top. John F. Martin trains and Irving Orozco did the riding.

Today’s eight-race program begins at 3:15 p.m. The biggest purse of the day is $27,000 and will go to the winner of the fifth race. Hollendorfer’s Top Pirana might go favorite.

The guest at today’s handicapping seminar is Don August. He is the agent for Cerapio Figueroa. The show gets underway at 1:30 p.m.