Tom Pedulla is interviewing prominent owners, trainers, and jockeys as they travel the road to the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) May 3 at Churchill Downs.
This week's installment features jockey Juan Vargas, who has broken onto the national scene with his success aboard upstart Coal Battle, a $70,000 yearling purchase on behalf of Norman Stables. The native of Peru has been aboard for each of the colt's five victories through seven starts, helping the son of Coal Front to $1,053,875 in purse earnings.
Vargas, 43, came to the United States in 2008 and was unable to find an agent willing to work with him, making it difficult for him to attract quality mounts on his own. He worked as an exercise rider in the morning to compensate for his shortage of opportunities as a jockey in his early years in this country.
Vargas rode largely in anonymity until Coal Battle put together a four-race winning streak capped by the Feb. 23 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park. The youngster reeled in Madaket Road in the Rebel to boost his total to 70 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, enough to secure a berth in the Run for the Roses. Coal Battle will make his next start on the Derby trail in the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) March 29 at Oaklawn Park.
Vargas reflected on his struggle to establish himself, his emergence and that of Coal Battle, and how much it will mean to compete in his first Derby during a question-and-answer session conducted by America's Best Racing.
PEDULLA: How did you learn to ride?
VARGAS: My family started working with Thoroughbreds in Peru. That's how I learned.
PEDULLA: What age were you when you became a jockey?
VARGAS: Seventeen.
PEDULLA: Where did you compete at first?
VARGAS: I rode in my country and I rode at some small tracks in Puerto Rico.
PEDULLA: I know it has not been easy for you to get to this point. What made it so hard?
VARGAS: When I first got here in 2008 from my country, I was trying to get an agent and it was very tough to get an agent. I needed to make money, so I became an exercise rider in the morning.
PEDULLA: When did your situation start to improve?
VARGAS: I was working for Steve Asmussen. In November 2020, I told Steve, 'I want to ride. Give me a chance to ride.' He said, 'Let me see what I can do for you.' He put me on a horse the last week of the Churchill meet and he finished second. When we went to Fair Grounds, he put me on the same horse and he won an allowance race.
PEDULLA: That must have helped your confidence.
VARGAS: One of my best friends said, 'If you want to become a jockey, you need to take a chance. You need to try.'
PEDULLA: What happened then?
VARGAS: I went to Scott Blasi (Asmussen's top assistant) and told him I wanted to ride. I was galloping some nice horses for them. He said, 'Help me until Derby day (2021) and you can go. I know some agents and I will help you.' Derby day came and he made a call and he said, 'You've got an agent now.'
PEDULLA: What is Coal Battle like to ride?
VARGAS: I can control him. He's an excellent horse. He's not too hard to ride. He makes my job easy because I can put him in any position I want.
PEDULLA: What is his style? How does he want to run?
VARGAS: He likes to run midpack. That's where he's shown me he's comfortable.
PEDULLA: Does he need to be outside of horses or not necessarily?
VARGAS: Not necessarily. You don't have to be outside.
PEDULLA: Is he getting better with each race?
VARGAS: For sure, he's getting better and more mature. In the Rebel, he faced some really nice horses and he responded. He showed he can run.
PEDULLA: How do you feel about his ability to get a mile and a quarter?
VARGAS: Like anybody, it will be his first time running a mile and a quarter. To me, he can handle it.
PEDULLA: When did you start to think Coal Battle could be a Derby horse?
VARGAS: That last race (Rebel Stakes) he showed me a lot. The first time I felt this horse is really something was a stake we won at Delta Downs (6 1/2-furlong Jean Lafitte Stakes, a 2 1/2-length victory Nov. 8). He got bumped on the first turn and got spooked. But on the backstretch, when I smooched to him, he responded real good. That was the first time he showed me he had talent.
PEDULLA: He's a trier, as they say.
VARGAS: He's a hard trier.
PEDULLA: What does it mean to you to know Coal Battle already has enough points to go to the Derby?
VARGAS: I'm very thankful to the owner, Mr. (Robbie) Norman, and to the trainer, Lonnie Briley, for giving me this opportunity. I'm very thankful to them and to God, who makes these things possible.
PEDULLA: Are you a person of great faith in God?
VARGAS: Without God, we cannot do anything.
PEDULLA: Has it sunk in yet that you have a Derby mount or does this feel like a dream?
VARGAS: For every jockey, it's a dream to have a horse to ride in the Kentucky Derby. Right now, I'm going step by step. It's a dream, for sure. I'm excited. I'm thankful to God. I'm just enjoying this moment.
PEDULLA: Can Coal Battle win the Derby?
VARGAS: It's going to be a tough race. The horse has shown me talent. The other horses have talent, too. I'm going to do my job. The horse and the trainer are going to do their jobs. The horse is getting better and better. He's capable of better things, for sure. We'll see.
PEDULLA: Do you try to picture what it would be like to win the Derby?
VARGAS: For sure. That's my dream. Like I said, we'll see.
