MORFIN READY TO FOLLOW COOPER'S EXAMPLE
When trainer John Cooper closed out his career with a victory in the Southern California Derby with Boondarbian back on December 18, it was the closing story on a great chapter in the history of racing at Los Alamitos Race Course. “Coopie” walked away a winner and in his own words “at peace” knowing that his stable of horses, most of them owned by Jeryl Hartley, would be in good hands with trainer Sergio Morfin, who was Cooper’s assistant for many, many years.
“He’s taking this over and he’ll continue training the horses that I have right now.,” said Cooper before retiring. “He’ll train for Jeryl Hartley. (Sergio) has some pretty good ones to work with and he’ll do good. He works hard at it. I can’t think anyone here I’d given to except him. No one has given him anything. He’s worked very hard for everything he’s achieved. He’s made it. He has established himself as a good horseman because he is one.“
Morfin will saddle Eleazar Gonzalez’s Favorite Habit in the featured $13,700 ninth race on Sunday at Los Alamitos. Previously owned by Hartley, the Favorite Cartel gelding in a graded stakes finalist and a two-time winner in his career. He’ll face five others in the 330-yard dash. He’ll face the likes of Black Gold Stakes winner Paint Your Lips P and the consistent El Bobito Bet Cartel in this 330-yard dash.
-30-