Page 87 - November 2021

WHO ARE SOME OF THE MENTORS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELPED YOU OUT SO FAR IN YOUR CAREER?
“Most of my friends help me throughout it all. I had advice from a lot of people, including riders and trainers. I’ve just had help from a lot of people. A huge thank you to Jason Olmstead for giving me the opportunity and bringing me to where I am at now.”
TAKE ME BACK TO YOUR FIRST DAY AS A JOCKEY. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER? WERE YOU NERVOUS? “At first I was really nervous. I didn’t really know if I was going to mess it up. I didn’t know what to think. I was really nervous going up to the jocks’ room, walking in there, seeing a lot of new people. It kind of threw me off. I was nervous the first couple
of races, but once I started getting more confidence, the races started feeling more normal.”
WHAT WAS IT THAT GAVE YOU MORE CONFIDENCE?
“When I broke my maiden.”
WHAT’S YOUR ROUTINE LIKE ON A RACE DAY?
“I usually go gallop in the mornings, get a couple pounds off, go for a run before going to the jocks’ room. Just show up ready to go.”
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE TRACK TO RIDE AT, AND WHY?
“My favorite would have to be Prairie Meadows. Everything’s in order. The people are nice out there.
And the crowd, they appreciate you. They appreciate the jockeys. They show love to the jockeys.”
ANY MEMORIES OF THAT DOUBLE STAKES WIN DAY AT PRAIRIE MEADOWS? “My parents being there, they came over from Claremore out there to go watch me ride and I ended up winning those two good races.”
WINNING THE JOCKEY TITLE AT CANTERBURY, WHAT DID THAT DO FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE?
“It showed me that I could do it. It didn’t matter what age you are, how long you’ve been in the business. As long as you dedicate yourself to it, anything’s possible.”
YOU STARTED OUT AS A JOCKEY AT
SUCH A YOUNG AGE. WHAT ARE SOME
OF THE SACRIFICES YOU MADE TO BE
WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
“I went to school most of my life until I was a senior. My senior year I dropped out and did school online so I could go out and start [working] at the track. I’d gallop in the mornings and when I was done, I would do my homework online, so I could also graduate. I had to move out from my family because I had to go to Remington Park. I had to man up and start my life.”
WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS?
“My biggest goal is to win the All American Futurity, and also win the Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park.”
Edwin Escobedo and his family at Will Rogers Downs.
THE BACKSIDE
Edwin and Apollitical Payoff win a maiden race at Will Rogers Downs.
SPEEDHORSE November 2021 85