Lopez Family Faces Off at Golden Gate
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Three members of the Lopez family of jockeys will participate in the sixth race at Golden Gate Fields May 29, as father C. C. Lopez will ride against sons David and Erick in the mile claiming contest for 3-year-olds and up.
The elder Lopez, a veteran rider based on the East Coast at age 54, comes to Golden Gate with momentum after winning the Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III) at Lone Star Park May 25 with Majestic City. Earlier this year at Aqueduct Racetrack, he guided El Kabeir to victories in the Jerome (gr. III) and Gotham (gr. III) stakes.
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Apprentice rider David Lopez, who ranks fourth in the Golden Gate jockey standings with 64 victories, also enjoyed a very successful holiday weekend. The 25-year-old won five races May 24 and finished third aboard Pepper Crown in the All American Stakes (gr. III) on Memorial Day.
Erick Lopez, 27, moved his tack to Golden Gate last month after competing at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Ariz., where he finished 15th in the rider standings.
"This will be the first time all three of us will be riding against each other," said David, who rode against his father last year in a race at Indiana Downs and has competed against his brother several times. "We've been trying to do this for a long time. My father planned to visit us after the race in Texas and my agent (Dennis Patterson) was able to get him a mount here."
At scratch time May 28, C. C. picked up the mount on Time To Glow, who is 10-1 on the morning line. David will ride 5-2 second choice The Alameda Kid and Erick will pilot 5-1 third choice High Greely.
Asked if there will be a side bet, David replied, "No. It will just be for bragging rights."
First post at Golden Gate Friday is 1:15 p.m. PT. Post time for the sixth race, which features a field of seven $3,200 claimers, is 3:45 p.m.