The Herald Bulletin

Evening Update

Sports

Related Photos

  • Francisco Torres rides Tourismo across the finish line during the fourth running of the Don K. Memorial Starter Handicap Series. Torress took first place in the race and has won eight times in the first two days of Hoosier Park's thoroughbred season. Aaron Piper / The Herald Bulletin

    0801_sports_racing001.jpg

Discussion

August 1, 2010

Torres off to hot start at Hoosier Park

Jockey has eight wins in first two days of racing

By Rick Teverbaugh The Herald Bulletin

ANDERSON, Ind. — Apparently it is taking the bettors a while to catch on, but Francisco Torres is on a tear, and any horse he’s up on is a threat to win.

Jockey Torres has won eight races in the first two days of Hoosier Park’s thoroughbred meet, capping it with a victory in the first leg of the Don K. Memorial Starter Handicap Series on Saturday afternoon.

Torres rode Tourismo to an impressive win. Going right out of the gate to the lead he was never headed. Berlioz, with James Lopez at the reins, nearly reeled in Tourismo just before the final turn. Several horses took their shots at the winner down the stretch but could get no closer than the 1.25-length winning margin.

“Looking at the program, there really was not much speed in this race today,” said Torres. “In the last few races, speed has really been holding up. So I warmed him (Tourismo) up in the post parade and hoped we could get out early. Once we were on the front, I wanted to keep him comfortable so he could finish at the end.”

The winning time was 1:37. As one of the long shots in the race, Tourismo paid $30.40, $12.40, and $7.80 across the board.

Grand Stage, with      jockey Nelson DeSouza, was second while Gold Legion, with Rodney Prescott, was third. There will be four other rounds for this series before the meet ends.

The win aboard Tourismo was the third of the day for Torres, who opened up the meet Friday with five wins. Torres also connected with Prohibitive in the third race and Barton Springs in the fourth.

Torres leads the early charge for leading rider with eight wins followed by Leandro Goncalves, Fernando De La Cruz and Prescott, who each have two. Randy Klopp and Barbara McBride are tied atop the early trainer standings with two wins apiece.

“It’s great to get off to such a good start,” said Torres. “It’s not so much anything special I’m doing, but it’s the horsemen who are giving me the opportunity. I am getting better horses, and that makes the difference.”

Torres is no stranger to the Hoosier Park oval. He was a frequent visitor at the track during the first four years of competition, winning numerous stakes races. His biggest win thus far was recorded in the 1996 Indiana Derby, which was contested for $100,000 at the time.

Torres guided Canyon Run to victory in the second running of the event. In all, Torres has more than 2,000 career wins and numerous leading rider titles to his credit. He recently completed the 2010 meet at Churchill Downs in fourth place and also snagged a fourth-place finish in the standings at Indiana Downs in only limited starts.

“Coming from Indiana Downs and getting back to Hoosier Park is great,” said Torres. “Hoosier Park has a great atmosphere. I’ll just give it my best and hope everything falls into place.”

Text Only
Sports
  • DSC_1432.JPG Triumphant Tribe

    Seventeen years of frustration and disappointment for the Anderson Indians baseball team ended in a jubilant dog pile atop junior pitcher Curtis Wilson on Monday night at Pendleton Heights’ Field of Dreams.

    May 28, 2012 1 Photo

  • Argylls squeeze into crown

    Madison-Grant coach Ben Rodriguez liked his squeeze play so much that he called it again in the pivotal inning of the Class 2A, Sectional 39 championship game at Eastern High School on Monday night in Greentown.

    May 28, 2012

  • 0529 spts Lapel vs Wapahani_baseball 59a.jpg Bulldogs’ comeback falls just short

    Not even a heroic seventh-inning rally could save the Lapel baseball team in the Class 2A sectional title game at Frankton on Monday afternoon. The Bulldogs scored four runs in the seventh inning but still came up a run short as the Wapahani Raiders won the championship 9-8.

    May 28, 2012 1 Photo

  • 0413 sports Muller semifinal 038.jpg Tribe rallies past Pendleton Heights into final

    This is the stuff of legend.
    The kind of game that defines a rivalry.
    The kind of victory that breathes new life into a program.
    And the kind of defeat that won’t ever be forgotten.

    May 28, 2012 1 Photo

  • George Bremer-2.JPG George Bremer: In with Orton, out of Luck?

    There really is no offseason anymore in the National Football League.
    The Indianapolis Colts haven’t played a game since Jan. 1, but look at all the headlines they’ve generated since that date.

    May 28, 2012 1 Photo

  • 0528 NASCAR Charlotte Auto_Harl.jpg Kahne keeps Hendrick success rolling at Charlotte

    Kasey Kahne powered to victory in the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night, taking NASCAR's longest race for the third time for his first win with Hendrick Motorsports.

    May 27, 2012 1 Photo

  • 0528 Manu.jpg Spurs strike first in West finals, win 19th in row

    Manu Ginobili scored 26 points and the San Antonio Spurs won their 19th in a row to tie the NBA record for longest winning streak kept alive in the playoffs, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-98 to open the Western Conference finals on Sunday night.

    May 27, 2012 1 Photo

  • Indians White Sox Bas_Harl.jpg Konerko hits go-ahead HR, White Sox sweep Indians

    Paul Konerko got a big milestone home run and the White Sox got a sweep of the only team between them and the AL Central lead.

    May 27, 2012 1 Photo

  • Rockies Reds Baseball_Harl.jpg Reds outslug Rockies on record day for HRs

    Here's how easy it looked to hit home runs at Great American Ball Park on Sunday: Todd Frazier lost his grip on the bat during a swing. The ball wound up in the seats anyway.

     

    May 27, 2012 1 Photo

  • Cubs Pirates Baseball_Harl.jpg Cubs lose 12th straight, 10-4 to Pirates

    The Chicago Cubs didn't come to close to ending their longest losing streak in more than 15 years. Pedro Alvarez, Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones homered, Erik Bedard pitched six shutout innings and the Pirates beat Chicago 10-4, sending the Cubs to their 12th consecutive loss.

     

    May 27, 2012 1 Photo