Jockey Luis Rivera Jr. Saddles First Winner as Trainer

Luis Rivera Jr. didn't merely add to his more than 1,500 victories as a jockey with a win in the first race at Monmouth Park Aug. 18. He also notched his first win as a trainer.

The 51-year-old rider, who took out his training license in June, pulled off the rare feat of riding a winner he also trains when Strawberry Red scored an upset at odds of 14-1 in the Saturday opener.

Claimed by La Familia Stable for $8,000 June 16, Strawberry Red is currently the only horse Rivera trains, but he said he is looking to add more while continuing to ride.

"I like to keep busy," Rivera said. "I've been around horses my whole life. I like doing everything with them. I'm at the track at 5:30 every morning to gallop horses, then I check in on this one and then I ride whenever and wherever I can.

"It gets tougher to get mounts when you get older, and I wanted to do more with my time, so I decided to take out my training license and see what happens."

Rivera's first training victory came in his third try. All of his training starts have been with Strawberry Red, but Saturday's race was the first time he was in the irons.

"It feels good," he said. "When you put in the work and get results, it always feels good."

As a jockey Rivera has had 14,720 mounts, with his horses earning in more than $22.3 million in a ridding career that began in 1987.