Alex Solis

Top Associated Horses: Monzante, General Consensus, Miss Silver Brook, Caspian, Bella Roja, Soul Candy

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2009 Record: (808-121-125-124)

2009 Earnings: $6,719,946

2009 Win %: 14% In-The-Money %: 45%

Height: 5’3”
Weight: 112
Born: March 25, 1964, Panama City, Panama
Residence: Glendora, Calif.
Family: wife Sheila (daughter of trainer J.B. Sonnier), sons Alex Jr., Andrew and Austin, and daughter Tiffany.
Through October 17, 2009, has won 97 races from 639 mounts and his horses have earned $5,672,691.
Has won three Breeders' Cup races, two in 2003 with Johar (who finished in a dead heat) in the Turf and Pleasantly Perfect in the Classic, both trained by Richard Mandella. Won that year's Breeders' Cup Bill Shoemaker Award as outstanding rider. First Breeders’ Cup victory was with Kona Gold in the 2000 Sprint. In winning at Churchill Downs, Kona Gold set a track and stakes record with his time of 1:07.77. Rode Kona Gold in five Breeders' Cup Sprints, 1998-2002, also recording a second in 1999 and a third in 1998. Has ridden in 61 Breeders' Cup races, four in 2008. His best finish in 2008 was third in the Juvenile with Street Hero ... He is ranked 13th among all riders in the Breeders' Cup.
Top mounts in 2009 include Magical Fantasy (G1T Yellow Ribbon Stakes, G1T John C. Mabee and Gamely Stakes, G2T Santa Barbara Handicap), Spring House (G2T Del Mar and San Luis Obispo Handicaps), Meteore (G2T La Jolla Handicap), Starlarks (IRE) G2T San Clemente Handicap; The Pamplemousse (G3 San Rafael and Sham Stakes); Lethal Heat (2nd, G1 Lady's Secret, 2nd G2 Palomar Handicap, 2nd Cal Cup Classic, against males, 3rd G1 Clement L. Hirsch and 3rd G2 Del Mar Mile Handicap, also against males), Charlie's Moment (G3 Lazaro Barrera Memorial Stakes) and Gallant Son (Pasadena Stakes).
Had exciting spring aboard 3-year-old classic prospect The Pamplemousse. After winning the G3 San Rafael and Sham Stakes, The Pamplemousse was sidelined with an injury and scratched on the morning of the Santa Anita Derby ... Son, Alex Jr., 25, is a bloodstock agent and puts partnerships together, including the one which purchased Daytona from Sheikh Mohammed, and The Pamplemousse, purchased for $150,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2008 Selected Sale of 2 Year-Olds in Training. The Pamplemousse is named for the popular restaurant across from Del Mar. The restaurant is owned by Jeffrey and Bill Strauss, both also part owners of the racehorse.
Got interested in racing as a youngster attending the track with his father ... Enrolled in Panama jockey school at age 14 and learned the basics of hotwalking and riding; he graduated in 1981 ... Won first race Nov. 7, 1981 at Presidente Remon, Panama.
Moved from Panama to Florida in 1982 to finish his apprenticeship and subsequently became the leading rider on the Gulfstream, Hialeah and Calder circuit ... Moved tack from Florida to Southern California in 1985.
First gained national prominence when he won the 1986 Preakness Stakes aboard Snow Chief for trainer Mel Stute.
Rode Mane Minister in 1991 to unprecedented consecutive third-place finishes in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
Finished second in the Kentucky Derby three out of four years with Captain Bodgit in 1997, Victory Gallop in 1998 and Aptitude in 2000.
In the 1996 Pacific Classic, he rode Dare and Go to an upset victory that ended Cigar’s record-tying streak of 16 consecutive wins ... Other notable rides were aboard Victory Gallop when he handed 1996 Horse of the Year Favorite Trick his first career loss in the 1997 Arkansas Derby and was aboard Got Koko when she brought Azeri's 11-race win streak to an end in the 2003 Oak Tree Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap.
Won six consecutive major riding titles at Santa Anita, Hollywood and Del Mar, beginning with the 1996 Hollywood Park summer season and ending with the 1997 Hollywood Park summer meet.
Received the George Woolf Memorial Award in 1997.
Won his 4,000th race with King Robyn on Oct. 24, 2003, at Santa Anita.
Rode Pleasantly Perfect to victory in the 2004 Dubai World Cup.
In 2006 Solis was recognized at the Sports Legends Awards for his contributions to sport.
Hobbies include golf and hiking. Says strenuous mountain hiking helps keep him in good shape.
Was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Calder Race Course.
A wine afficionado, Solis and jockey Mike Smith and a partner have launched a wine named Jinetes (Spanish for jockeys). Jinetes Syrah is produced by Eagle Point Vineyards in Mendocino, Calif. It is available at select restaurants and online.
Continues to be a featured rider in the Animal Planet series "Jockeys," now in its second season.
Represented by agent Brian Beach. Split with longtime agent Scotty McClellan in Jan. 2009, a partnership that had lasted 16 years.

Breeders' Cup Record

Starts	1st	2nd	3rd	Earnings
61	3	8	5	$7,603,960

2008	Filly & Mare Sprint	Tizzy's Tune	5th
	Juvenile	Street Hero	3rd
	Juvenile Fillies	Evita Argentina	9th
	Mile	Daytona	10th