Contreras Celebrates Milestone Victory at Woodbine

Jockey Luis Contreras achieved his 2,000th victory aboard first-time starter He's a Macho Man Dec. 16 at Woodbine.

The 32-year-old picked up steam in his quest to 2,000 heading into Woodbine's final weekend of the season, posting four wins Friday and adding another victory Saturday to leave him just one shy of the mark with a full schedule of mounts over the final race day of the 2018 meet.

Contreras reached the milestone in the afternoon's fifth race courtesy of the 2-year-old chestnut colt, who rallied late to win his 1 1/16-mile debut by one length in 1:46.46 for trainer Josie Carroll and Di Scola Boys Stable.

"This is great to reach 2,000 here at Woodbine," said Contreras, who was joined by his family and fellow jockeys in the winner's circle. "It is a big thing for me, and I'm really, really happy."

Contreras recorded many wins in Mexico, where he began riding at age 16. He earned his first U.S. victory on Feb. 1, 2007, aboard Flyinsyn at Golden Gate Fields in California and his first Canadian win at Woodbine on April 10, 2009, on Merkel. A winner of all three legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, he has competed in more than 11,600 races, with his mounts earning nearly $86 million in purses.

The two-time Sovereign Award champion led the Woodbine jockey colony from 2011-13 and has ranked among the top three since. He has earned 118 of his 138 wins this year at the Woodbine meet.

Among his 2018 highlights, Contreras has recorded 12 stakes wins in Canada and the U.S., including a repeat victory in the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine in rein to Johnny Bear.

Contreras' winter plans include racing in California for a couple of weeks, then heading to Oaklawn Park in Arkansas before returning home for the start of the 2019 Woodbine meet in April.