Vizcaya Celebrates First Spa Victory as an Owner

Picking a winner is nothing unusual for Darwin Vizcaya, the New York Racing Association's Spanish-language handicapper and content provider.

But standing in the winner's circle at Saratoga Race Course after his horse, Catire Vizcaya , wins a Aug. 26 Travers Day maiden special weight race? That was a new experience for Vizcaya that left the analyst who speaks for a living searching to find the right words to describe his emotions.

"I don't know what to say," Vizcaya said. "I'm crying inside. This was a dream come true. I remember coming here to this country with $700 in my pocket and having to wash dishes. You think about everything you go through to get to a moment like this. It's amazing."

Vizcaya, who was born in Venezuela, has three partners in his Habian Los Caballos stable and bought the son of Anchor Down  off the recommendation of his friend Keiber Rengifo at Golden Rock Thoroughbreds, who consigned the colt to the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. 

"He told me he had the best white baby in the sales," Vizcaya said about a colt whose name translates as light-haired Vizcaya. "I wanted to pay $45,000, but we got him for $50,000."

Having the hammer come down at $50,000 was fortunate since Saturday's opening race at the Spa was a maiden race for 2-year-olds restricted to horses that sold or were RNA'd for $50,000 or less.

It was the gray or roan colt's second try in that condition after finishing second at 5 1/2 furlongs in his July 20 debut at the Spa.

"He ran very good in his first race and we had big expectations," Vizcaya said.

Bred by Singing Bridge Stable in Kentucky out of the Speightstown   mare Bristol's Brooke, Catire Vizcaya set the pace then held off a stretch threat by David Bernsen's Walstib  to win by 1 1/4 lengths for trainer Juan Avila and cover the seven furlongs in 1:24.75 under Spa leading jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.