J. Paco Gonzalez
| J. Paco Gonzalez | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Triple Bend Invitational Handicap (2000) Hopeful Stakes (2001) San Rafael Stakes (2002) San Vicente Stakes (2002) |
| Significant horses | |
| Bienamado, Bien Bien, Came Home, Del Mar Dennis, Free House, Mane Minister, Pacific Squall | |
Juan Paco Gonzalez (born March 17, 1945, in
Thoroughbred horse racing trainer
.
Life
The fourth of six children, Paco Gonzalez grew up on a ranch near
Agua Caliente Racetrack in Tijuana. In 1964, Paco Gonzalez followed his brothers north to California where he found work as a stable hand for trainer Joe Manzi
under whom he would learn the business for the next twenty-five years.
Career
Joe Manzi died in April 1989 [1] and Gonzalez took over as trainer of the stable whose clients included John Toffan and Trudy McCaffery, Canadian friends who raced as a partnership. For Toffan and McCaffrey and/or with other partners, the soft-spoken and reserved Paco Gonzalez enjoyed considerable success as the trainer of millionaire multiple Grade I winners Bien Bien, Free House, and Came Home.
- Bien Bien won the 1992
- Free House retired with earnings of more than US$3.1 million having won major races such as the 1997 Santa Anita Derby, 1998 Pacific Classic Stakes, and 1999 Santa Anita Handicap. He also ran third in the Kentucky Derby, second by a nose in the Preakness Stakes, and third in the Belmont Stakes. [3]
- Came Home earned US$1,835,940. His wins included the 2001 Hopeful Stakes and the 2002 Santa Anita Derby [4] and Pacific Classic Stakes.
Among other runners conditioned by Paco Gonzalez,
Hollywood Oaks
in 1992.
Trudy McCaffery died in early 2007 and Paco Gonzalez continues to train horses on a smaller scale for John Toffan and wife, Cheryl.