Alan Garcia Birthdate: October 2, 1985 Birthplace: Lima, Peru Redidence: Elmont, NY Family: Single

2009 Gulfstream Record

 Career:

• Has quickly reached the highest levels of racing mainly in New York, winning the 2008 Belmont Stakes aboard Da' Tara after just a few years in the U.S.
  He was the leading apprentice in Peru in 2002-03 and came to America on the advice of a friend and quickly moved from exercise rider in Kentucky and New Jersey to riding and winning at the Meadowlands that fall
• He was the leading apprentice at the Big “M” that season but underwent an appendectomy that winter and was unable to return to racing until the following summer at Monmouth Park
• Gained traction in 2005 at Aqueduct riding future stakes stars Scrappy T and finished second in the Gotham that year aboard Pavo despite his saddle slipping, only to be disqualified for striking another horse with his whip 
• Won his first Grade 1 race aboard Lahudood in the 2007 Flower Bowl at Belmont Park and partnered with that mare to win the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Monmouth a month later
• He won eight Grade 1 races in 2008 including the Belmont upset of Big Brown by Da' Tara as well as the Met Mile on Divine Park, a pair of races with turf star Grand Couturier and a repeat in the Flower Bowl with Dynaforce.

Other: His father and grandfather were jockeys in Peru and he started getting on horses by age 8 ... He is one of three riders to earn a first Grade 1 victory aboard a horse for Shadwell Stable and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin ... Enjoys playing soccer in his spare time