<body><div>The twin spires at Churchill Downs are one of the most iconic symbols in horse racing, if not at the top of the list.Every year on the first Saturday in May, the connections of 20 3-year-old Thoroughbreds will glance up to the creation of Joseph Baldez and know they have made it to the pinnacle of the sport they love: the Kentucky Derby (G1).However, that symbolism extends to the other 364 days of the year, immediately stirring awe in visitors and horsemen alike just to be in the facility that hosts the greatest two minutes in sports.That awe will likely strike a young Rene Cazares Jr. Nov. 14 when his trailer rolls into the Churchill Downs backstretch that morning and he catches a glimpse while unloading his trusty mare Polka Polenta to compete in the $150,000 Claiming Crown Tiara. For the Horseshoe Indianapolis-based trainer who just turned 23 Nov. 11, the twin spires will be a symbol of how far he's come in his first year training, and a target for the dreams he hopes to achieve as his career continues on."I'm overly excited and grateful that I even get to go to Churchill Downs my first year," Cazares said. "I feel like Churchill Downs is such a historic track that anybody would be grateful to go to. It doesn't matter the size of the race, just being there you feel all the history and everything that goes down there. It's beautiful. I'm just so grateful that I have the opportunity and that this mare has allowed me to even participate."The 8-year-old Fort Larned mare is a special one to Cazares and one that has been with him much longer than one would expect for a horse running in an event celebrating claiming horses. When he was just 18, Cazares claimed the horse in July 2022 for $7,500 out of a starter optional claiming race at Horseshoe Indianapolis.She soon became the most reliable horse for Cazares Racing Stable, which he operates alongside his father Rene Cazares Sr. First trained by Joseph Davis until Cazares took out his own license in January, she has made 37 starts for the stable, posting a record of 7-5-4 for earnings of $226,077. She enters Saturday off a Sept. 28 victory in a starter optional claiming race at Horseshoe Indianapolis."She was sometimes the one carrying the barn on her back," Cazares said. "Sometimes, the other horses weren't running that well, and we knew we could always enter her and end up with a little bit of money."<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4J9VVY_1GzZqN2100" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4J9VVY_1GzZqN2100" width="470" height="376" ><figcaption>Photo: Coady Media Polka Polenta wins a starter optional claimer at Horseshoe Indianapolis</figcaption></figure>Cazares' interest in horses and racing started early. His father has worked for Davis at Horseshoe Indianapolis for about 15 years and his uncle, Jose, is also a trainer at the Shelbyville, Ind., track. Another uncle, Antonio, is a farrier.That led to Cazares spending a lot of time in the barn growing up, seeing and studying the work of his family and Davis. At 16, he began hotwalking for trainer Ethan West and saved up his money to begin claiming horses. The more he earned, the more he'd claim."The first feeling that I got when I won my first race as an owner is a feeling I'll never forget," Cazares said. "You get butterflies through your whole body and you get this adrenaline. You're not always going to be a winner, but I just love the feeling when I do win."Cazares was in pretty strong control of his stable. Although officially trained by Davis, he would be the groom for his horses and often the one giving the jockeys instructions. It was clear that training them himself would be in his future; it was only a matter of time."It took me a little long to build my courage and say I want to go take my trainer's test," Cazares said. "I knew that I knew what I was doing, it was just the nerves that would get to me. I didn't want to go take the trainer's test and fail."After studying for the test for a full year, the final push came in January. His father has served as a big inspiration in his life, and he wanted to be the one earning him trophies. Furthermore, Cazares himself had become a father and he knew it was time to take the next step into his future.He passed the test and began his stable with the horses he owned."My dad inspired me to get my training license. He's helped me learn the ropes," Cazares said. "I've always loved horses, I've always been around them. Seeing I can be the one taking them from when they're babies to older ages, seeing them evolve, is a beautiful thing."So far, he's posted solid results. Competing at Turfway Park in the winter until Horseshoe Indianapolis opened in the spring, Cazares has a record of 7-2-4 from 41 starts entering Nov. 11, his horses earning $146,978 in purses.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3M6lj1_1GzZqN2100" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3M6lj1_1GzZqN2100" width="470" height="313" ><figcaption>Photo: Courtesy of Rene Cazares Jr. Rene Cazares Jr. legs up a rider onto one of his horses</figcaption></figure>"Basically my rookie year, I think I've accomplished pretty good stats," Cazares said. "Being a rookie at 22 and being able to have a pretty decent season, hopefully it shows people I really do want this."Finding clients and increasing business is the toughest part of any trainer getting a start in the industry, but it is extra difficult for young trainers who have not had as much time to build a reputation. Cazares' barn numbers six horses, five of which are owned by him and his father, while the sixth was recently claimed by his cousin."You don't see young people in this industry. It's sad because if there's no young people coming into the industry, eventually the industry is going to vanish," Cazares said of the challenges getting started. "People don't trust you enough, and you'll have to work really hard to earn the respect from these veteran trainers and owners."Although it can be frustrating, Cazares understands the need to prove himself in order to earn respect, and a good way to do that would be winning on a stage such as the Claiming Crown."That could definitely help me, advance me, get me into people's radar—maybe earn a little bit of respect as a young guy," Cazares said. "I understand earning the respect. I want to make a statement that I'm here to stay and that I'm going to accomplish everything I want to."I see myself and have dreams of myself accomplishing what all these big trainers have accomplished."</div></body>

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The twin spires at Churchill Downs are one of the most iconic symbols in horse racing, if not at the top of the list. Every year on the first Saturday in May, the connections of 20 3-year-old Thoroughbreds will glance up to the creation of Joseph Baldez and know they have made it to the pinnacle of the sport they love: the Kentucky Derby (G1).

First-Year Trainer Cazares Aims High in Claiming Crown

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The twin spires at Churchill Downs are one of the most iconic symbols in horse racing, if not at the top of the list. Every year on the first Saturday in M

First-Year Trainer Cazares Aims High in Claiming Crown

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