Maldonado Wins No. 1,000 at Los Alamitos

A slow start at Los Alamitos Race Course's September meeting didn't make the milestone jockey Edwin Maldonado achieved Sept. 12 any less gratifying.



With a closing drive aboard 3-year-old filly Nite Delite in a maiden special weight event—the last contest of the day—the Ohio-born, Puerto Rico-raised rider claimed the 1,000th victory of his career.



Maldonado and the Art Sherman-trained War Chant filly sat sixth early on in the six-furlong sprint, went five wide in the turn, kicked clear in the stretch, then held on to win by a half-length at odds of 7-1. The jockey had started the Los Alamitos meet winless in his first 11 starts.



"I was hoping to get it at Del Mar, but it just didn't happen," Maldonado said. "I'm just happy to get there."



Settled in Southern California for the past five years, the 32-year-old has done his share of traveling to reach the milestone.



"I got here when I was 19, traveling all over—Minnesota, Texas, Louisiana," Maldonado said. "I even got my license in Winnipeg, in Canada. It's not an easy career. It's mentally tough and physically tough, with a lot of young riders coming up every year. But I'm happy to get 1,000. Now let's get to 2,000."



Since 2002, Maldonado has a 1,000-993-1,029 record from 9,162 starts, taking down more than $28 million in purse money for his mounts. His best year by victories and earnings came in 2013, when he won 190 races and brought in more than $8.3 million, which included three graded stakes. This year, his mounts have earned more than $1.6 million and he has a 44-55-42 record in 374 starts.