Chris Landeros was just 19 years old when he competed against jockey legend Richard Migliore in California in 2007.
Even though he lost his apprenticeship jockey status after winning 152 races in the prior year, Landeros was still fairly new to the circuit.
During that 2007 season, Landeros watched Migliore’s winning ride of Student Council in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar and Desert Code in the Affirmed Handicap at Hollywood Park. It was also this period when Migliore mentored Landeros while including him in family events such as going to the beach after the races.
Little did anyone, especially Landeros, know their paths would meet again more than a decade later.
Migliore has become Landeros’s mentor again. This time, he is his agent for the Saratoga season.
Even before becoming his agent, Migliore has been impressed with his riding style and demeanor.
“I was aware of him because I liked the way he handled and conducted himself,” Migliore said. “He gets it. He sees the bigger picture.”
“I liked the way he rides,” he added. “There are guys who win who aren’t good riders, and then there are guys who are good riders who aren’t getting a lot of opportunities, but the way they position their horses and ride in a race, they are a good rider. That’s what I thought about him when he was 18. He’s really matured and developed since then. He’s much stronger and really finishes with a horse.”
Landeros has been making an impression this year at various tracks in Florida and Kentucky that include a top 10 finish in the jockey standings at Gulfstream Park for winter meet.
He has also won graded stakes races aboard Bourbon Resolution (Ben Ali at Keeneland), Champagne Anyone (Gulfstream Park Oaks), Si Que Es Buena (La Prevoyante Stakes at Gulfstream) and Gentle Ruler (Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park).
Once Landeros earned his first Kentucky Derby mount with Bodexpress, Migliore reached out to him and inquired of his summer plans. That was the start of their Saratoga partnership.
“I called him up to congratulate him on the Derby mount,” Migliore said. “I told him, ‘I really think you are ready to step up and try Saratoga.’ He said, ‘Really, you think so?’ If you want to do this, I can represent you.’ He said ‘Let’s do this.’”
Landeros already had experience riding at Saratoga last year. Over three racing days, he rode just five horses, but he did come back with a winner: Big Dollar Bill in the marathon Birdstone Stakes for his father-in-law trainer Ian Wilkes.
“I was fortunate to come here last year,” Landeros said. “I really wanted to come last summer. We didn’t feel it was the right time. I felt that I needed another year under my belt. I could ship in to Saratoga for a stakes. I came here for four weekends and worked some horses. One of the biggest supporters that I have is my father-in-law.”
With just a couple of weeks before the start of the meet and the support of Milgiore, Landeros was still contemplating on whether to stay in Kentucky for the remainder of the summer or come to Saratoga in the search for opportunities. However, Landeros realized the long-term significance if he didn’t come here for the 40-day meet.
“The only thing that was going to hold me back is home,” Landeros said. “This is the stage where I am getting close by going to Gulfstream, coming here and being at Keeneland and Churchill. I have to stay with these guys. I cannot let them get too far away. It was time.”
It didn’t take too long for Landeros to win his first race of the Saratoga season. Riding for the first time of the season on July 11, he guided Originator with a near last-to-first move in an allowance race.
What made this victory more unique was the connection Migliore and his son Joseph have with Originator, who is owned by West Point Thorougbreds.
Richard Migliore rode Originator’s sire Artie Schiller to win the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes in 2005 and the Bernard Baruch Handicap in 2006. Joseph Migliore is a sales associate for West Point Thoroughbreds.
“It was the first winner for us as a team. It’s pretty cool,” Landeros said about the connection around the victory. “I got scratched out of the first two days and that was disappointing. I knew I had a couple of chances.”
Landeros is expected to have more chances this meet, especially horses like Champagne Anyone and Bourbon Resolution who are currently training in Saratoga. Beyond those horses, Landeros wants to maximize his summer experience.
“I’m happy to be here. I am blessed to be here. I am enjoying every moment,” he said. “I am working hard in the morning. I see it as kind of a working vacation, but I do have goals. I want to do well enough where I can call this my summer. Right now, I am taking it one day at a time, one race at a time.”
