Martin Garcia Quite Busy for Hollywood Debut

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(from Hollywood Park notes)
Roger Olguin, agent for apprentice jockey sensation Martin Garcia, had a busy first morning on the Hollywood Park backstretch Wednesday.

"I picked up six mounts for Friday and should have at least five for both Saturday and Sunday,"said Olguin of business for the 21-year-old Mexican-born rider, who ranks second in the nation with 149 wins this year and will make his Hollywood Park debut on Friday. He has been competing in Northern California.

"He was on three horses this morning for John Sadler, Jorge Periban and Peter Eurton," said Olguin as the rider familiarized himself with the Inglewood track after traveling south from Golden Gate Fields on Tuesday.

Trainer Paulo Lobo expressed his confidence in the apprentice by naming him to ride Secret Ridge in the $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap (gr. III) on Saturday.

Olguin said Garcia, who missed a week of action with a fractured wrist in a spill at Golden Gate before returning to the saddle Saturday, was fully recovered from the injury. "When he fell, he put his hand on the ground and hurt some tendons, but now he is okay," said Olguin.

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