El Paso jockey Luis Fuentes continues to shine at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino
When it matters most in the afternoons when races take place at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino, Luis Fuentes makes it count.
The talented 23-year-old jockey, who grew up in Canutillo and graduated from Academy West early so he could begin his riding career, has established himself as the top thoroughbred jockey at the Southern New Mexico track.
Fuentes was almost certainly meant to be a jockey, following in the footsteps of father Miguel, brothers Miguel Jr. and Ruben and uncles Freddy, Adan and Alfonso.
"I learned something from all of them," Fuentes said. "They all have experience and all have had good moments. I was lucky because I grew up around the sport and grew up learning from all of them. I had lots of people I could lean on for advice. I've been able to travel some and ride at a few tracks."
Fuentes won the thoroughbred riding title at Sunland Park last year with 38 wins from 153 mounts and his horses earned more than $1 million. This year he's already at 36 wins with more than $1.1 million earned as the current meet at Sunland Park near it's close in early April.
On Sunday on Sunland's Park's biggest race day, Fuentes will be prominent, which features seven stakes races, including the Sunland Derby and Sunland Oaks. While he isn't scheduled for a mount in the Sunland Derby or Oaks, he'll be aboard Clocksrikestwelve in the Harry Henson Handicap, Bye Bye Bobby in the Bill Thomas Memorial Stakes, Thruthestorm in the New Mexico Breeders' Derby, Cheese Tray in the New Mexico State University Stakes and Doer Not a Faker in the New Mexico Breeders' Oaks. In all of those mounts, Fuentes will be on talented horses with a strong chance of winning.
"I've been fortunate to have been on some great horses and work with great people. Sunday is a big day and I'm excited for the big races I'll be in," Fuentes said. "I've just tried to continue to grow as a jockey and learn every day. I've ridden in New Mexico and other parts of the country and those have helped me so much. My ultimate goal is to ride in California and Kentucky."
Fuentes rides for multiple trainers, including two of Sunland Park's top trainers, Todd Fincher and Dick Cappellucci.
"Luis has great hands and he can adjust to whatever style the horse is accustomed to," Cappellucci said. "And with the stick in his hand, he can use either hand effectively and help the horse. He's very talented."
El Paso owner Kirk Robison, who is one of the top owners in New Mexico racing and regionally as well, said he is impressed with Fuentes.
"He is a good young rider that my trainers use frequently," Robison said. "We have had good success with him."
While success has come with hard work and dedication on the track, he's also proven to be loyal and dedicated away from the track to his girlfriend Joree Scriver, a fellow jockey. Scriver was injured on Jan. 1 at Sunland Park, which resulted in lower limb paralysis. Scriver was injured when her mount, No Huddle, fell on the backstretch in a six furlong claiming race. No Huddle was racing mid-pack and appeared to be in the clear when the accident occurred.
Scriver's spinal cord was bruised but not severed and recently had some movement in two of her toes.
"Luis has been supportive of me through all of this and I'm grateful," Scriver said. "He's been someone I can lean on for so much. He helps me with everything and to see him be successful has been amazing. He's a talented rider and he rides with confidence. To see him achieve what he's done has been encouraging and inspires me."
Said Fuentes: "It's been hard to see Joree go through this but she's tough, she's a fighter. We're hopeful that things will be ok, it takes time and patience. She motivates me."
Fuentes has become a household name in New Mexico horse racing, but with his success at a young age, he could be known on a larger scale in years to come, joining the likes of Francisco Arrieta and Luis Contreras, jockeys who recently had success at Sunland and who have gone on to bigger tracks.
"I'm going to keep working every day and things will work out," Fuentes said. "I enjoy what I do every day and I'll always give my best effort in what I do. There are still lots of goals I want to reach in this sport and I'm going to do my best to reach them."
More: Sunland Derby draw Hard To Figure is 2-1 morning-line favorite for Sunday's Sunland Derby
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter
Coming up
What: Sunland Derby and Sunland Oaks
Where: Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino
When: Sunday, March 26
First post: 12:25 p.m. with the first of 11 races. The Sunland Oaks and Sunland Derby will be races No. 8 and No. 10 on the card. The Sunland Oaks is scheduled to start at 3:41 p.m. and the Sunland Derby at 4:45 p.m..
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso jockey Luis Fuentes continues to shine at Sunland Park
