TAMPA, FL -
Angel Serpa's second season riding at Tampa Bay Downs is his breakout one. He leads all jockeys with 39 victories.
"He's done exceedingly well," said track vice president of marketing Margo Flynn. "He wins on both dirt and turf. He excels on the turf course but is having a super season."
The turning point for Serpa came when he earned the chance to compete in last year's Breeders' Cup. He rode Speak Logistics, a two-year-old horse from Florida, to a seventh place finish in the Juvenile race. But the event gave Serpa a boost in confidence when he returned to Tampa Bay Downs this season.
"I think I got more experience with good horses," Serpa said. "I know about this business now."
Serpa's dream is to race in the Kentucky Derby. He thinks Speak Logistics can get him there. "I've got the confidence now," he said.
Serpa life is horsing racing, in every way. His wife, Carol Cedeno, is also a jockey at Tampa Bay Downs.
Serpa had heard about Cedeno in their native home of Puerto Rico. But it wasn't until an event in Philadelphia, when he first saw her ride a horse, that Serpa really took notice of her. "I saw her, and it was like, ‘Yes.' She rode the horse [well], nice girl, looked good," Serpa said.
The husband and wife race against each other on occasion at Tampa Bay Downs. Serpa admits those races are different. Recently, Serpa's horse held on win and Cedeno's finished second. It made for a unique post-race conversation.
"She said, ‘You'll be in trouble.' I asked, ‘You think you'll cook tonight?' She said, ‘No, you beat me.' I was like, ‘What did I do?'" Serpa recalled.
In reality, when one spouse wins, they both win.
File / Photo Credit: John Duca/Tom Cooley
