The only way to be born in Maryland could be to make Nick Juarez’s homecoming better this week.
“Being at Pimlico is monumental,” said the 31-year-old jockey and the fourth-generation jockey. “One thing to do is ride Preakness. But let’s win.”
The American promise that Juarez won the Virginia Derby is his first mount in a signature race in Juarez’s hometown. The American promise ended up in 16th place after encountering some trouble in the Kentucky Derby presented by the Woodford Reserve, but the history of the Preakness Stakes is home to the winner who didn’t attack the board at Churchill Downs two weeks ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piinssew5p8
The list includes three of the seven prequeness victories of Hall of Fame Trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
Around Preakness Burn on May 15th, people often cried out wishes in Juarez, while others took pictures of him. He had a full slate of media interviews. He left Maryland years ago and was riding in Monmouth Park, but this spring he moved his tack to Kentucky, but Juarez is part of the Maryland racing community.
“These people know me before I thought it,” he said. “This jock’s room, I grew up here on the bench. I was at this racetrack. My grandfather is here. My great grandfather is here. There are some great (winning) photos of my great grandfather as a trainer.
Juarez’s parents were at the racecourse, at his father, Calix Juarez and jockey and mom Carol Linton, who passed through nursing schools to keep horses. On Preakness Day, Elder Juarez drives a veterinarian truck and her mother drives a pony horse.
“She ponys for one day of the year here in Maryland,” says Nick Juarez. “It’s tradition.”
However, his mother is not accompanied by American promises at the post-parade and the starting gate.
“We’ll keep our business as usual,” he said.
The exception is that putting your son in Preakness is hardly a business as usual.
“Oh, yeah… I don’t understand the words,” Linton said. “Overwhelming. Fantastic. Amazing. Magnificent. Adjectives you add to it. We didn’t dream of being in the place today. That’s amazing. He has many people behind him.”
Linton is the daughter of longtime outrider, trainer, and obstacle race stadium Charlie Linton and the granddaughter of owner trainer Bob Linton.
“We got photos from Marlboro, Shenando Downs at Bowie Racetrack,” Nick Juarez said of Maryland’s long track. “Goodness, all the love and support from the house is overwhelming.”
Juarez grew up in Westminster, Carroll County, Maryland, about 25 minutes northwest of Baltimore. He grew up 4-H and showed steers and pigs. He also worked on Wintersmill High School and its renowned wrestling coach John Lowe.
The Jockey has been busy this week, attending America’s Best Racing Precauverness Party on May 14th at Washington Mount Tavern, raising funds for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund. Previously, he spent more than four hours in high school and visited with freshmen and advanced classes. Thursday night will be a fundraiser for Green Turtle in Westminster to benefit the high school athletics program and Maryland’s racing aftercare program Beyond the Wire.
“It’s a truly surreal moment to go home,” Juarez said. “I was able to meet Wrestling Coach John Lowe. I was able to meet Mr. Walker, my advisor. I have so many memories, so many friends, but I am very grateful for the place I am today.”
His message to the Wintersmill student body: “You need resilience. Just like this term, go back to the saddle. That applies to anyone’s life walks.
On the news that he was on Preakness, Juarez said he received a text from the Winters Mill athletic director. “The message I sent back was that it’s a man like you. “They probably don’t realize what they do with these kids every day at school. But they’re really making an impact. I’m 31 and they’re still part of my life.”
Linton likes to tell people how her son bought a castrated gelding. Nick’s first Breeders’ Cup mount took the lead from fifth in the 2015 Saturday Mile and third in the odds 45-1.
“He bought him to save his life and he lived on my farm,” she said. “Nick is very special. He loves people, loves animals and wants to give back to the world.”
Juarez won his first victory over his first start, Love Heart, in a $5,000 conditioned billing race at Laurel Park on December 14, 2013.
“I trust horses,” he said. “The first time I got on the grass was in Pimlico on a horse named Ilnaratte for the Valora Tester to Pimlico. I’ll never forget, it paid $95, and (track announcer) Dave Rodman says, “And it’s ready to pay a lot!”
Having struggled to catch up as a Maryland apprentice, Juarez moved Tuck to Monmouth Park.
“It wasn’t overnight (success), but I built New Jersey home and a few years later I became a lead rider,” he said. “The first decade of every summer was in New Jersey, then six winters at Gulfstream Park. I never returned to Maryland. I was able to actually spend six weeks at Laurel Park (January 11, 2016).
Juarez returned to Pimlico in 2017 to win the Black Susan Stakes, a 3-year-old filly who is a maiden who paid $27.60. “Her son’s hit show just won the Dubai World Cup,” he said.
During the past three winters, Juarez rode Oak Lawn Park. There he connected with legendary Hall of Fame riders Lucas and Gary Stevens, who won each Triple Crown Race three times and worked as Juarez’s agents in Arkansas and now Kentucky.
“He’s offensive, smart, and he finishes strong,” Lucas said. “He also does what we ask him to do. I don’t think if we were beaten (in Preakness), it would be Nick Juarez who would beat us. …I saw him ride and he rode for me a few times. Gary.
Stevens says that training shows promises of extra energy since training reminded him of Lucas-trained Oxbow, who finished sixth in the 2013 Kentucky Derby but was led to make 50-year-old Stephens the oldest jockey and earned Preakness. Currently, Stevens is hoping for his first triple crown victory as an agent.
“First of all, Nick has a great personality,” Stevens said. “He’s a great communicator. He’s very honest when he shares what he feels about his horse. He gets along well with Wayne Perfect.”
On May 16th, Juarez is riding three stakes for Lucas. George E. Mitchell Black Eyed Susan Arya, Pimlico Special Stakes, Just Steel and Lemon Muffins, along with Aller Dupont Todistav, as well as his old friend McMahon’s allowance competition. In addition to American promises, he is riding Saturday’s Chick Langstakes (Perfect Force) and Lucas’ Burton Stakes (Best Friend Rocket).
Before he headed to Baltimore, Juarez said, “It’s going to be a good vote for Preakness. I’m excited to see my friends and family. And I’m really excited about Jimmy’s famous seafood crab cake.”
Linton, infection prevention manager at LoriEn Health Services in Carroll County, worked the day Nick acquired Black Eyed Susan. However, she made sure she was off this Friday and Saturday. She will accompany another Preakness horse – she doesn’t know who he is yet – gathers from the track on the post and along with other pony riders as they do during the race.
“The hard thing about that is, I can’t see it, but I can hear it,” she said. “There are a lot of us who we stand together. I already win them, I run that horse through the winner’s circle, throw the reins at someone and enter the winner’s circle with NIK. It’s been over before.
“I think he has the potential to win Preakness. I hope the stars match. Just thinking about it makes my eyes tears,” she added. “We’ve been through this for generations for a long time. That’s when we win Preakness.”
