Removed from the glitz and glamor of the frontside, a extremely expert workforce serves because the heartbeat of the game. By means of early mornings and unpredictable components, the women and men of the backstretch look after our equine athletes with very important dedication. Their names don’t seem in this system and there’s no Eclipse Award to honor their achievements—however theirs will not be a pursuit of glory. They love their work as a result of they love the horses. It is so simple as that.
Darwin Aguilar with Important High quality
Darwin Aguilar
With a fast smile and a mild method, 26-year-old Darwin Aguilar has fashioned a particular bond along with his Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic (G1) contender Essential Quality . The Tapit colt will nap in the stall and remain lying down as Aguilar cleans his hooves. Aguilar can also lie in the straw with Essential Quality while he is sleeping. Essential Quality may be doted on by many members of the team, but Aguilar takes great pride in his role in the colt’s success. A native of Guatemala, he has worked for trainer Brad Cox for 6 years and puts his whole heart into his job.
“My hands communicate with the horse, and when I work with the horse, he knows I want the best for him,” he said.
Yeison Castellanos with Knicks Go
Yeison Castellanos
Knicks Go is the best runner Yeison Castellanos has worked with in his seven years as a groom. The 24-year-old native of Guatemala came to the United States to work with horses, fulfilling a dream.
“When I was a kid, I wanted a horse, but I couldn’t have one,” he said. “So when I came here, I felt happy because I saw a lot of horses. I love working with them.”
The son of Paynter has a special place in Castellanos’ heart.
“I believe in him every time he runs,” he said. “When he won the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), I said, ‘Wow, this horse is very good.’ I love him; he’s the best for me. I hope he will run good in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. I hope he will win.”
Eddie Ceja with Hot Rod Charlie
Eddie Ceja
Hot Rod Charlie has been under the care of 50-year-old Eddie Ceja since the colt arrived in Doug O’Neill’s barn as a 2-year-old. A Mexico native, Ceja has worked for O’Neill for 21 years and has been a groom since 1980. He’s a dreamer who eagerly anticipates the arrival of the juveniles each year, hoping for greatness.
“I waited 20 years to have a big horse, and that’s ‘Hot Rod,'” he said of the Oxbow colt. “I’m happy and nervous for him to run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”
Geraldo Moralez with Max Participant
Geraldo Moralez
Within the 20 years he has spent as a groom, all as part of Steve Asmussen’s staff, 49-year-old Geraldo Moralez has by no means had a Breeders’ Cup Basic contender. That modifications this 12 months with Max Player .
Moralez, who grew up on a farm in Mexico, loves to be around horses and takes pride in caring for them well.
“I’ve had horses in other divisions but I’m very excited because it’s the first time I’ve brought a horse to the Classic,” he said of the son of Honor Code . “I’m happy to be in this position with a very good horse.”
Honorario Olevera with Express Train
Honorario Olevera
Honorario Olevera is a man of few words, but the words he uses to describe Express Train speak volumes. After skillfully placing standing wraps on the Union Rags colt after training just a few days before the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the 55-year-old Mexico native said Express Train is “awesome,” “a beast,” and “fantastic.”
Olevera has worked for trainer John Shirreffs for 20 years, and moves around Express Train’s stall with the ease born from decades of experience. He loves his job because he loves the horses.
“They’re intelligent and talented,” he said.
Jose Perez with Art Collector
Jose Perez
When Art Collector is ready to run, Jose Perez gets excited. The 38-year-old Mexico native has been around horses his whole life, and knows when a Thoroughbred is in good form.
“When I know he’s ready, I’m happy because I’ve spent a lot of time working with him,” he said of the Bernardini colt. “He’s a really nice horse; he has a lot of class. He’s really intelligent.”
Perez has worked for Bill Mott for six years.
“I love the horses and I love that the job involves working outside,” he said. “I like traveling to different places.”
Edgar Quinteros with Tripoli
Edgar Quinteros
Tripoli is a horse Edgar Quinteros looks forward to seeing every morning when he comes to John Sadler’s barn.
“I like him because he’s a happy horse, always happy in the mornings, and because he runs good every time,” said Quinteros, 40, a native of Guatemala who has worked as a groom for nine years, 3 1/2 of them with Sadler.
“Every part of my job is fun for me because I love the horses, but I especially love working with this horse,” he said of the Kitten’s Joy colt. “I’m very proud to see him come to the Breeders’ Cup and compete against the best horses in the world.”
(L-R): Ruben Ramierez and Carlos Lopez with Stilleto Boy
Ruben Ramierez & Carlos Lopez
Ruben Ramirez, the assistant trainer for Ed Moger Jr., has worked closely with Stilleto Boy since the Shackleford gelding has been in Moger’s care. But he needed a hand at Del Mar, so Carlos Lopez joined the team Oct. 29 and has been learning the ropes from Ramirez.
“I love animals, especially horses,” said Lopez, 28, a native of Guatemala.
The story is the same for Ramirez, 57, who came from Mexico and started working on the racetrack in 1982. Ramirez greets everyone with a warm welcome and shares infectious enthusiasm for the horses in his care, and for his new pupil, who has been working with horses for four years.
“I’ll teach him,” Ramirez said. “He’ll learn a lot if he pays attention.”
A groom cares for a horse as preparations continue for the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar
