Juan Arias came to the United States in 1981 after riding a few races in his home country of Panama. He rode in the US from 1981 until 1990 [as Juan Arias Jr.], until a stroke at age 25 ended his riding career. “I had bleeding ulcers, and my blood count was bad and was having heart troubles,” he said. “I was in the hospital 45 days, but after I got out and started eating a normal diet, everything was OK.”
After retiring from the saddle, he worked as an assistant for several trainers, starting with Richard Root for several years. “His whole family trains,” he said. “He’s been a top trainer in Florida for many years.” Arias then shifted to California, working for Wesley Ward for a time, before returning to Florida, where he worked as an assistant to Happy Alter from 2000 until 2003. When he took out his own license, he specialized in problem horses. “It was hard in the beginning,” he said. “I was picking up horses that had behavioral problems, or physical problems, and then repairing them mentally and physically. My ability to ride them is an advantage. I have exercise riders, but if I see a horse going choppy, getting in or out, then I get on them myself.” Arias said the first owner to give him a horse was Pedro Maestre, and Richard Rowan soon followed with a couple. “I have to give a lot of credit to Mr. Rowan,” he said. “Each year he gives me more and more horses.” Arias currently has 25 in training at his Calder base. This will mark Arias’ Breeders’ Cup debut. “I’m very excited,” he said. “After Renda won the Brave Raj, every day she gets better and better. I’m very optimistic and very confident [about her chances in the Cup]/ I get on her myself, and she keeps getting stronger and more serious. She used to be a baby, but she’s not a baby anymore.” Renda has given Arias his two blacktype wins – the Brave Raj at Calder and the Junior Champion Stakes at Monmouth. The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro out of Ten Carats, by Capote, was a mere $11,000 Keeneland yearling. Bred by Meadowridge Stable (KY), she’s well traveled, having run at four different tracks in five starts. Her three wins came in her debut at Calder and in thd Junior Championship at Monmouth August 23, and the Brave Raj back at Calder September 27. She also ran fifth in the G3 Debutante at Churchill and fifth in the G3 Schuylerville Stakes at Saratoga.
