The versatile John Cortez—Santa Anita Park's lead outrider, pari-mutuel clerk, and small-stable trainer—got his first training win in more than 3 1/2 years when Carver scored in the fifth race June 8, a $50,000 starter allowance at one mile on turf at Santa Anita.
Carver is one of three horses currently trained by Cortez, a 72-year-old native of Chino, Calif. Carver was claimed for $32,000 in June 2024 by trainer Keith Craigmyle for owner Mike Flory. After being sidelined for the remainder of 2024, Carver resurfaced this year in the Cortez barn.
"Keith is a friend of mine and he quit training for the time being," Cortez said from horseback during a morning track renovation break. "The horse got filtered down to me and here we are."
Carver's first two starts for Cortez earlier this year, both sprinting six furlongs on turf, resulted in only minor awards. But stretched out around two turns for his third start off the layoff June 8, Carver went right to the lead under Tyler Baze and was never headed on his way to a neck victory at 6-1.
"That was the plan," Cortez said of wiring the field. "We got lucky and it worked out."
For Cortez, it was his first training victory since Dec. 2021 at Los Alamitos Race Course and his first win at Santa Anita since June 2020.
"It had been a long dry spell. But we don't run very many either," Cortez said. Carver was Cortez's eighth starter this year. The previous two years, he had just five starters combined.
Following Carver's win, Cortez was greeted in the winner's circle by several of his fellow pari-mutuel clerks.
Cortez has been training since the early 1970s. He currently has three horses in his stable and one employee, Reymundo Rodriguez, who has been with him for more than 40 years. According to Equibase statistics, which only go back to 1976, Cortez has won 80 races and placed in multiple graded stakes. His best year came in 1981 when he had career highs in both 94 starters and eight winners.
According to Cortez, his lengthy days as Santa Anita's lead outrider, trainer, and pari-mutuel clerk begin with a 3:30 a.m. wake-up call. In addition to his roles at Santa Anita, he also has about half-dozen horses at his private residence that are a combination of broodmares and retired lead ponies.
"First thing is I take care of the horses in the backyard," Cortez said. "Then I come to the track and check on my horses here. After that, I get on my pony and open the racetrack at 5 o'clock. I watch my horses train, then at 10 o'clock, when the track is closed, I go check on them again and make sure everything is OK.
"Then I head home and take care of those horses there. After that, I get ready and come back for the mutuels."
It's more than a full day for anyone, much less someone well into their retirement years. Does Cortez plan on slowing down anytime soon?
"It's coming," he said.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
