Former Los Alamitos leading Quarter Horse jockey Cesar De Alba began his racehorse training career by saddling Pied N True to a second place finish in Saturday’s third race at Santa Anita, a $16,000 claiming event for fillies and mares at 6 furlongs.

            De Alba claimed the 6-year-old mare Pied N True for $16,000 on January 6. Pied N True was claimed back in that race by Matt Chew, who previously owned the daughter of two-time winning daughter of Benchmark.

            “Thanks to all the supporters out there,” said De Alba on his Twitter page @cdaracing. “Pied N True ran great! Hopefully I can claim one soon and get it to the winner’s circle.”

            De Alba led the Quarter Horse standings at Los Alamitos in 2016 and retired after piloting Dexxter in the running of the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity on December 16. He completed his riding career with 1,031 Quarter Horse wins and nearly $16 million in earnings from 6,120 mounts. He also won 301 Thoroughbred races from 1,884 mounts. The winner of the 2017 Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award, De Alba will end his riding career after Sunday's Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two-Million Futurity retired from the saddle as Los Alamitos' 15th all-time leading rider. His 90 stakes wins at the track rank him 10th all time. He won major Grade 1 races with Stylish Jess BR, Strength In Numbers, Moonist, BH Lisas Boy, Little Talks, etc.

            De Alba has said he wants to train both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses.

            Photo courtesy of @cdaracing