AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION—JULY 6, 2015—Jockey Alejandro Luna is a little more selective with his mounts these days, but he can still get the job done on those runners. Evidence of that was his recent Ed Burke Million Futurity (G1) win aboard Walk Thru Crystal. In part, that win led to his being named as the AQHA-Jockeys’ Guild Jockey of the Month for the month of June.

The award is voted on by a panel of Quarter Horse racing experts for riding accomplishments and achievements for the previous month of racing.

The veteran rider captured the premiere event at Los Alamitos for the third time in his distinguished career. He won the race in 2003 aboard A Regal Choice and then again in 2007 with Carters Cartel. Luna has won more than 700 races in his career, and this latest score marks his 18th Grade 1 victory, giving him 61 total stakes wins.

The winning ride by Luna kept Walk Thru Crystal a perfect 5-for-5 in her young career. He had the call for trainer Yanet Rodriguez, who has plenty of faith in his ability to get the job done.

Following the race, Rodriguez said, “We’ll see how she does. I am blessed and I can’t ask for anything more. Alejandro and I, we are a couple, and I think that’s an advantage. He knows his part and I don’t have to tell him what to do.”

Other riders hold the talents of Luna in high regard, as well. Even in defeat, fellow jockey Carlos Huerta of runner up Docs Best Card said “I’m happy for ‘Pee Wee’ Luna and Yanet Rodriguez. They’ve worked very hard for a long time and they deserve this.

“Pee Wee is a jockey’s jockey. I get along great with all the riders, but Pee Wee is a great person. He’s been here a long time and is someone who the young guys can look up to. I have great admiration for him.”

For the month, Luna had two wins from just nine mounts for a win percentage of 22 percent, was in the money on 56 percent of his mounts, and was third in AQHA earnings, with $426,163 in purses won.

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHARacing on Twitter, watch the AQHA Racing Newscast and visit www.aqharacing.com.