Wilfrido Torres Maldonado Reached the Magical Milestone

He recorded his 120th victory on Tuesday at La Plata, completing the process he began in August 2024 with remarkable speed and efficiency

Wilfrido Torres Maldonado with Mister Coquette after winning his first stakes race / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

LA PLATA.- Just as Lucas González and Ramiro Salazar did a few weeks ago, Wilfrido Torres Maldonado has now reached the 120 wins required to graduate as a fully fledged jockey. The milestone came in Tuesday’s final race at La Plata, where he guided Teresa Aurora (Most Improved) to a one-length maiden victory over Galana Dubai (Galanazo) in the 1200-meter Premio Snow Cat.

A graduate of the Jockey School run by the Gremial de Profesionales in August 2024, Torres Maldonado needed just 315 days to shed his apprentice claim, matching the swift rise of González earlier this year.

Although he competed in a handful of official races at Tandil during 2022 and 2023, his professional career officially began on August 27 last year at La Plata, the same venue where he now achieved this important landmark.

It took him nearly three weeks to secure his first win, but once that door opened, his progress was rapid, underpinned by natural ability. He closed out 2024 with 13 victories and has already added 107 more in the current season, placing him third in the national jockey standings behind Francisco Leandro and Kevin Banegas—the same position he holds in the San Isidro leaderboard. Overall, Torres Maldonado has ridden in 993 races, boasting a strike rate of 12.2% and his mounts earning over ARS 700 million.

He has two stakes wins to his credit thus far: with Mister Coquette (Bodemeister) in the Clásico Regimiento de Granaderos a Caballo (L) and with Mario’s Rim (Remote) in the Clásico Adolfo P. y Aníbal Giovanetti, both at San Isidro.

Among trainers, Alberto Calcagno (13 wins), Eduardo Tadei (11), and Carlos A. Cardón (6) were his most frequent supporters during his apprenticeship. In terms of owners, he scored five wins each for Stud El Comité and Stud El Turf, and four apiece carrying the colors of Haras Buen Ojo and Stud Pacífica.

With this chapter now complete, Torres Maldonado will ride on equal terms with his peers, no longer benefiting from the apprentice allowance. But with his abundant talent, there is every reason to believe he will continue to shine in this new stage, where commitment and dedication will prove essential.