Elvis Trujillo Rides 2,000th Winner

Elvis Trujillo rode his 2,000th North American winner May 9 in the first race at Santa Anita Park .



The milestone victory came aboard first-time starter Matriculate, whom the 31-year-old jockey guided to an impressive 6 1/2-length win in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight event for California-breds.



A winner of 43 graded stakes and five grade I races, Trujillo's most lucartive victory came aboard Maryfield in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in 2007. The native of Panama has accumulated more than $66 million in purse money since he began riding in the U.S. in 2001.



Trained by Bill Spawr, Matriculate and Trujillo sat in second, just off the pace of early leader Contemplate, who set opening fractions of :22.07 and :44.83, before the 3-year-old Lucky Pulpit   colt took command of the lead and pulled away to finish the race in 1:16.09.



"I just want to thank all the trainers and owners on the East Coast and out here, who have been so good to me," said Trujillo, who was joined in the winner's circle by his wife, Raquel, and young sons Elvis Jr., Emanuel Jeremiah, and Jorge Clifford. "Trainers like Bill Spawr, Peter Miller, Jerry Hollendorfer, and Steve DiMauro have all helped me so much. I'd like to win 2,000 more and with God's help, and if I stay healthy, hopefully I can."