For jockey Eswan Flores, it’s back to school and back to work

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On Monday, 18-year-old jockey Eswan Flores will begin taking classes for his senior year at Fernando Ledesma High School in El Monte. He’ll have a lot to tell his friends about his summer vacation.

On Sunday, Flores rode two winners at Fairplex Park in Pomona, giving him five victories in his career and starting the clock on his apprentice riding career.

He now has one year or 45 victories to spend as an apprentice jockey. His fifth victory clears the way for him to start riding first-time starters, opening the way to ride 2-year-olds.

He rode in his first thoroughbred race on July 1 at Hollywood Park and picked up his first victory on July 4. He’ll keep working horses in the morning, take classes and ride in the afternoon.

-- Eric Sondheimer