Octavio Vergara ended his career as a jockey with a fourth-place finish aboard Powerofvoodoo in the fourth race Oct. 14 at Santa Anita Park. His mount, a 7-year-old mare, was a 14-1 longshot in the 1 1/16-mile claiming event at the Southern California track.
Vergara, a native of Chile who turns 55 Dec. 3, has been a professional jockey since 1973 and has ridden for such legendary trainers as Laz Barrera, Charlie Whittingham, Bobby Frankel, and Ron McAnally. Following his retirement from race riding, Vergara will continue to exercise horses for Powerofvoodoo’s trainer, Barry Abrams.