Cardenas targets 100 winners, jockeys’ title

Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas has set his sights on reaching 100 wins this season, plus surpassing leading rider Anthony Thomas to claim the jockeys' championships at Caymanas Park.

Cardenas, who has ridden 40 winners so far this season, signalled his intentions in his quest for the jockey's tile when he rode a five-timer on last weekend's 11-race card.

Thomas, who is the joint 2020 champion jockey with Dane Nelson, leads the jockey's championships with 79 winners.

The 36-year-old Cardenas, who last won the jockeys' title in 2011, only returned from Panama to continue riding at Caymanas Park in April.

"My goal is to win 100 races this year," said Cardenas. "Anthony Thomas has been working hard, too, and it is hard to beat him because I started out riding so late," he said.

Not giving up

"I am going to try to beat him and I am not giving up and I will never give up and no matter how far he is in front, I am still going to try," he said.

Cardenas was a runner-up to Thomas in the Jockeys' Championships in the 2018 season. Thomas recorded 96 winners to Cardenas' 95 to lift the championship.

On his return to Caymanas Park, Cardenas has since changed his agent from Dwayne Grossett to Donovan Wilson, pointing out that this move has borne fruits because he has been getting a lot more good rides.

"I have changed my agent and so we are doing a great job and I am getting some good rides," said Cardenas. "I have spoken to him (agent) already and I told him that I want to reach 100 winners this year, and the only thing he said to me is that 'we have to work harder to get there'."

Cardenas also said that he has enjoys a good relationship with all the trainers at Caymanas Park and, therefore, he has been exercising horses for all of them in the mornings.

"I am very fit and in good condition right now. I have been working a lot of horses in the mornings, rain or no rain," he said.

"The good thing that I have been doing is that I have been working for every trainer. I am not really staying in one place and I am working for everybody, and I think this is going to help me a lot to reach the hundred," Cardenas said.