Coa records 4,000th career winner

Eibar Coa celebrated his 4,000th career victory (Bill Denver/Equi-Photo)

Jockey Eibar Coa reached a career milestone on Friday as he piloted
his 4,000th career winner to victory in the 9TH race at Monmouth Park. Maddy’s
Crowd (Crowd Pleaser) crossed under the wire a length better than his
nearest rival in the 8 1/2-furlong turf test, giving Coa the landmark
score.

“Obviously you don’t start out thinking you’re going to win 4,000 or
any number of races,” the 39-year-old Coa said after setting the career
mark. “You just go out there and do the best you can and when things
like this happen, it makes it even sweeter.” 

Coa sat in fifth early aboard Maddy’s Crowd before swinging that
charge to the center of the course and running down his rivals. Trained
by Tim Hills, Maddy’s Crowd paid $7.40 for the victory as the 5-2 second
choice. 

“I was really happy to get this win at Monmouth,” Coa said. “I’ve
been very lucky here and a lot of my friends are here in the jockey’s
room. It’s a special place and I’m glad this happened here.” 

Coa won three races at Monmouth on Friday, beginning his quest for
win 4,000 with a neck score in the 5TH race aboard Unique Treasure (Snow
Ridge). He followed up in the 8TH race with an easy 3 1/2-length win
aboard Goodness Greycious (Yonaguska).

A native of Monagas, Venezuela, Coa began riding in his native
country in 1992 before moving to the United States in 1993. He
permanently shifted his tack to the states in 1996.