Jacinto Herrera flew on the straight once again to find himself back in the winner's circle
- Turf Diario
- 8 hours ago
- 2 min read
The fantastic Peruvian jockey prevailed this Sunday in the fourth race at Tampa Bay Downs with Jess's Brew, coming from off the pace...
TAMPA BAY, Florida (Special for Turf Diario).— His arms flew once again; his mind, surely, must have traveled back to those days of glory in Argentina, wearing the La Quebrada silks, before that fateful spill changed his life forever.
Closing from off the pace, leaning in to drive and hand-riding with that short, rhythmic whip—just as he has done his entire life—Jacinto Rafael Herrera, the master Jacinto Rafael Herrera, once again savored the feeling of victory this Sunday.
After 996 days, or 142 weeks, or 32 full months, the Peruvian flew free, rallying from behind as if destiny always had the same script written for him; the "house specialty," most would say. In the short homestretch of Tampa Bay Downs, where he continues to put up a fight, Rafa was unerring in the irons of Jess's Brew (Jess's Dream) to take the fourth race of the day, a US$ 10,000 maiden claiming event with a US$ 20,000 purse, contested over a mile and 40 yards on the dirt track.
With more than 4,000 races won on Argentine tracks, many in Peru, and now 37 in the United States, Jacinto Herrera's mind must have been an explosion of emotion when he crossed the wire in front once again, transporting him back to those times when he won G1s with El Compinche (Southern Halo), Spiny (Ringaro), Oceanside (Babor), Guernika(Luhuk), Gentlemen (Robin des Bois), Handsome Halo (Southern Halo), Wally (Southern Halo), Gold Spring(Gold Trojan), and so many other cracks.
Later in the meeting, Jacinto returned to the track to finish twelfth with King Nate (Animal Kingdom) in the eighth race, though with his confidence at its peak and a desire to never give in.
When Jacinto fell on July 30, 2008, his life changed. He tried everything, working whenever his health allowed it, and managed to return to racing despite that initial medical prognosis indicating he would never again be able to do what he loves most in life.
But Herrera has always loved challenges, like this one: continuing to prove that the magic is still there.
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