Julian Pimentel swept the first three races Oct. 11 at Laurel Park in Maryland on his way to riding a career best five winners on a single card.
The 30-year-old scored aboard Intensivist ($4.20), Man of Danger ($6.60), and My Prospect City ($3.80) in races 1-2-3 then captured his fourth victory aboard Three Piece Band ($7.60) in the seventh. One race later, Pimentel and Duke of Devon ($40.60) came from way back to take a $29,000 allowance event on the turf course.
“This is the first time I have ever won the first three races on the card,” said Pimentel, who reached the 1,000-win plateau last month. “I really couldn’t believe Duke of Devon was going to win. We were so far back, but when I asked him to run he just took off. It was a terrific finish to a fantastic day.”
The five winners helped Pimentel move into the top spot in the rider standings during the current fall meeting. Pimentel has made 17 trips to the winners’ circle after 20 live racing days, one more than Horacio Karamanos. Sheldon Russell ranks third with 14 trips to the winners’ circle.
“I have been riding some live mounts, riding for some of the top trainers, which is a formula for success,” Pimentel said. “When you ride good horses for good people, you win races.”
After five years on the New Jersey circuit, Pimentel moved his tack to Maryland during the summer of 2006 and has won 348 races at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course since his arrival.