Alex Solis

Born:
1964-03-25
Panama City
Panama, USA

Currently Residing:
Glendora
California USA

Height: 5 3
Weight: 112 lbs

His wife is Sheila, who is the daughter of trainer J.B. Sonnier. They have three sons - Alex Jr., Andrew and Austin and a young daughter Tiffany.


Notes:
Alex Solis used to attend horse racing tracks with his father during his childhood days. Gradually, his interest in racing grew up. His father also inspired him to learn riding from his country jockey school. He was enrolled in Panama jockey school when he was fourteen years old and learned the basics of riding he graduated in 1979 and won first race on November 7, 1981 at Presidente Remon, Panama. He traveled from Panama to Florida in 1982 to finish his apprenticeship and subsequently became the leading rider on the Gulf Stream, Hialeah and Calder circuits. He came to Southern California in 1985 from Florida. He gained national prominence when he won the 1986 Preakness Stakes with Snow Chief. He finished second in the Kentucky Derby three out of four years with Captain Bodgit in 1997, Victory Gallop in 1998 and Aptitude in 2000. In the 1996 Pacific Classic, he rode Dare And Go to an upset victory that ended Cigar s streak of 16 consecutive wins. Alex won six consecutive major riding titles at Santa Anita, Hollywood and Del Mar, beginning with the 1996 Hollywood Park summer season and ending with the 1997 Hollywood Park summer meet. In 1997, Alex received George Woolf Memorial Award and won his 4,000th race with King Robyn on October 24, 2003, at Santa Anita. He earned a career-best 16,304,252 and became fourth nationally in purse earnings in 2003. Alex Solis Rode Pleasantly Perfect to victory in the 2004 Dubai World Cup. He was out of the track for nearly seven months with a broken vertebra and three broken ribs that he sustained in a fall at Del Mar on July 23, 2004. Still, he managed to rank ninth nationally in total purse earnings in 2004 with 11,554,851. In 2006 Solis was recognized at the Sports Legends Awards for returning to ride 153 winners after his back injury.

Statistics

Year	Races Run	Wins	Place	Show	Earnings
2009	336	50	55	52	-
2008	723	101	82	101	-
2006	754	140	119	107	-
2005	729	153	128	104	-
2004	556	120	96	80	-

Facts

• Through December 31, 2006 Alex was ranked 12th nationally with earnings of 10,544,735 and had 140 wins in 754 starts.

• He won two Breeders Cup races in 2003 with Johar (who finished in a dead heat) in the Turf and Pleasantly Perfect in the Classic.

• He also finished second aboard Mandella-trained Minister Eric in the Juvenile that year at Santa Anita. He recorded one Breeders Cup victory prior to that with Kona Gold in the 2000 Sprint.

• In winning at Churchill Downs, Kona Gold set a track and stakes record with his time of 1 07.77. Top mounts in 2006 have included Siren Lure (G1 Triple Bend Invitational H, G2 Pat O Brien BCH, G3 Los Angeles H), Brother Derek (G1 Santa Anita Derby, G2 Santa Catalina, G2 San Rafael), T. H. Approval (G2 Sunset Breeders Cup H, G2 San Juan Capistrano Invitational, G2 Del Mar H), Bushfire (G1 Acorn), Surf Cat (G2 Mervyn LeRoy H, G2 Potrero Grande BCH, G2 San Carlos H), Principle Secret (G2 Best Pal), Arson Squad (G2 Swaps BC), Grey Swallow (G2 Jim Murray Memorial H), Mo Cuishle (G3 Monmouth BC Oaks) and Bordonaro.

• Important Racing Wins Florida Derby (1986, 1997) Santa Anita Derby (1986, 2006) San Juan Capistrano Handicap (1986, 1996, 2006) La Brea Stakes (1990, 2002) Malibu Stakes (1990, 2000) San Felipe Stakes (1990, 1992) Del Mar Oaks (1992) John C. Mabee Handicap (2003) Eddie Read Handicap (2001, 2005, 2007) Bing Crosby Handicap (1988, 1998, 2000, 2001) Pat O Brien Handicap (2006) Del Mar Handicap (1990, 1997, 2003, 2006) Del Mar Debutante Stakes (1990, 1991, 1994, 2005) Del Mar Futurity (1991, 1994) La Canada Stakes (1996, 2003, 2004) Morris Handicap (1996) Pacific Classic Stakes (1996) Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (1997) Wood Memorial Stakes (1997) Yellow Ribbon Stakes (1997, 2005) Santa Anita Handicap (1998) San Gabriel Handicap (2000, 2003) Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (2001) Secretariat Stakes (2001) Manhattan Handicap (2002) Del Mar Handicap (2003, 2006) Sham Stakes (2003, 2004) Sunshine Millions Sprint (2003) Carter Handicap (2004) Metropolitan Handicap (2004) Acorn Stakes (2006) Las Cienegas Handicap (2008)

• American Classics / Breeders Cup wins Preakness Stakes (1986) Breeders Cup Sprint (2000) Breeders Cup Turf (2003) Breeders Cup Classic (2003)

• International race wins Dubai Golden Shaheen (2000, 2004) Dubai World Cup (2004)