Jockey Fernando Jara, who has experienced a rough year on the New York circuit since parting with agent Randy Romero in February, will ship his tack to California in September and target the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meet in an attempt to regain his business, the jockey said Aug. 11.
Agent Bob Meldahl will represent the 19-year-old rider, who had a break-out year in 2006. He rode Horse of the Year Invasor through an undefeated campaign for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and also won the 2006 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) aboard McLaughlin trainee Jazil.
Jara is currently riding at Saratoga Race Course in New York but does not plan to finish the meet. He leaves Aug. 15 for a two-week vacation in Panama and will return to the United States next month.
“I just want to try something new,” said Jara, who started riding in New York two years ago. “I know there’s a lot of good riders on the West Coast and it won’t be easy, but it’s never easy. I’m going to visit my family in Panama and then I’ll come back and get a place and be ready to start working.”
Jara has won 35 races this year with a win rate of 9%.