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

2008 Gulfstream Record
Did not compete

 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 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