Flores joins up with agent Craig O'Bryan
David Flores, who will turn 42 on Feb. 5, has parted ways with Ron Anderson and reached an agreement with longtime agent Craig O'Bryan to book his mounts, according to sources. Flores and Anderson hooked up during the Del Mar meet this past summer, but the veteran rider's business never picked up and he made the switch in agents this week after initially announcing he was going to serve as his own agent.
Flores, who won three Southland riding titles in 1999 but has seen his business decline sharply this past year, won three stakes races on opening day of the 2007-08 Santa Anita meeting, but his best finish at any of the five major Southland meets in 2009 was a three-way tie for 10th at the Del Mar meet.
Flores, who joined the Southern California jockey colony during the 1989 meet at Del Mar, has won three Breeders' Cup races and numerous other local major stakes, including two Hollywood Gold Cups, a Santa Anita Handicap and the Pacific Classic.
O'Bryan last served as Richard Migliore's agent when the East Coast-based jockey rode here during the Oak Tree meet.
Brad Peagram ruined Flores career---gave all of the big mounts to Mike Smith and manuvered Flores off of Zenyatta.
I could be wrong, but I believe David lost the mount on Zenyatta after her third race because of some riding commitment. Smith rode her for the first time in the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park in April 2008 and I'm not sure if it was because Flores had a mount here he wanted to stick with, or something else. I hope to talk to David later this week for my column and I'm going to ask him exactly what happened.
David Flores is a good guy and was a good jockey until about a couple of years ago. He's not good out of the gate anymore and he can't finish like some of the younger Jocks. Especially over Pro Ride where you need the physical strength to get it done.
He's had a good career and I wish him the best.
david flores rode el gato malo that saturday instead of zenyatta, el gato malo was his derby horse. its a monday morning quarter back situation. Flores is a great rider