BY TAMPA BAY DOWNS PRESS OFFICE 

OLDSMAR, FL—Whether it’s jamming on guitar with his teenage son Camilo, a talented drummer; playing volleyball with daughter Sophia; or enjoying a home-cooked meal with wife Erin and the kids, jockey Pablo Morales keeps himself occupied away from the races.

Because of the quality time with his “support staff”, the 37-year-old Lima, Peru native is able to fully concentrate on his riding assignments at Tampa Bay Downs.

About the only thing the family doesn’t do together is rollerblading (inline skating), which Morales enjoys as a means of staying super-fit.

“I go too fast,” he said, laughing.

Morales is in a good place at Tampa Bay Downs, where he has won seven through Friday, Dec. 12 to earn the Martin’s Italian Jockey of the Month Award.

“What a better way to have a happy life than a wife who has your best interests at heart, takes good care of you and your kids and makes sure you have a delicious meal when you come home. The fact she is happy doing that for me, I feel blessed,” Morales said.

“Camilo goes to the School of Rock, and when he performs people are amazed. He’s into all the music I grew up on in Peru when I used to jam out in my band. Now I’m playing it with him, and it’s made me so much better of a guitar player.”

Morales also relishes playing volleyball with Sophia as long as it’s what she is passionate about. “I kind of show my kids what to do,” he said. “But they wound up loving it themselves, which makes it that much easier to spend time with them enjoying it.”

For Morales, appreciation extends to his agent Paula Bacon, a former jockey.

“We’ve been together for many years and she gets me good mounts and good business. She’s friends with a lot of good people and that helps a lot.”

Morales is also is proud to have a close relationship with father Pedro Morales, who lives in Miami with mom Gloria.

“If I win a race and don’t call him, he’s sad. It means so much to have a fan like him. He thinks I’m the best jockey in the world.”

Morales, who rode 200 or more annual winners four times in a six-year span from 2017-2022, has 2,851 career victories, including the 2019 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs on Stonehedge homebred Well Defined for trainer Kathleen O’Connell. He has also won three Grade 2 races, two for trainer Wesley Ward.

Morales has nine riding titles at Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania, his summer place. He has to pinch himself sometimes to believe he is closing in on 3,000.

“I never dreamed of being close to that. It’s still far away, but hopefully not too far,” Morales said. “I wouldn’t even call it a dream because I never thought it was a possibility. The competition is tough everywhere, and now that I am getting close I really want it.”

Five of Morales’s victories have come on the turf, where he benefits from his experience, decision-making and ability to save a horse’s best for a strong finish.

“It’s a different way of riding and I think I have this turf course figured out pretty well,” he said. “It’s more tactical than riding on the dirt. There are more factors going on. You have to be patient, look for the pace and save ground.

“I try to keep my horse comfortable and not to be aggressive early because I know most turf races are won at the wire. I try to keep my horses happy and not force them to do anything too soon so we’ll have a good finish late.”

And if eight or nine other riders have the same idea, Morales will take his chances. He’s fit, focused and eager to keep those closest to him proud of his efforts.

“I like to warm up and stretch real good before my races. You’ll never see me just sitting there. I’m going to be lifting weights or stretching or meditating, getting my mind and body ready to perform,” he said.

Return to the December 13 issue of Wire to Wire