September 28, 2026
Horse racing celebrates resilience, and perhaps no jockey has demonstrated more of that trait in recent years than Julian Pimentel.
The 45-year-old Pimentel, a winner of more than 1,800 races in his career, took a hiatus from riding after recording 42 wins in 2021. He returned to the track earlier this year and reached the winner’s circle with on September 26 after guiding Hidden Brook Farm and Golden Lion Racing’s Hidden Overture to victory in the $125,000 Selima S. at Laurel.
Trained by Brittany Russell Hidden Overture is by Mendelssohn and is a half-sister to Grade 2-placed turf runner Bojaca Blessing. Tanya Lobsiger bred her in Kentucky and she was purchased by the Hidden Brook Farm team for the consistently successful Hidden Brook Racing Partnership at the 2026 OBS June sale. She made a striking career debut in an off-turf heat at Delaware on September 3, winning by 13 ¾ lengths as the overwhelming favorite.
“I was fighting with my weight for a long time,” Pimentel said after the score in the Stakes for juvenile fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the Bowl Game Turf Course. “I had injuries. Finally, I was able to get my weight down and come back. It’s been fun.”
Pimentel’s comeback has been quite successful so far, with six wins in 26 races. The Selima marked his first stakes win since Virginia Beach’s Camptown victory at Colonial Downs on September 1, 2021.
Beginning at post six, Hidden Overture stalked the pace from the outside while Sun Valley sped clear through fractions of 24.16 and 49.94 seconds. Hidden Overture made her intentions known with a three-wide brush after a six-furlong clocking of 1:16.24, then took over the lead without much fuss in the upper stretch.
Despite racing greenly, Hidden Overture held sway by three-quarters of a length over Homewawayfromhome, with Sea Isle City another half-length behind in third. Sun Vally was fourth. Then came Maybe Gold, favored Dance to Glory, Millford Lass, Gypsy Lullaby, and Cherokee Purple. Cash Or Credit scratched.
“She broke very sharply, and I was sitting in a great spot,” Pimentel said. “In the lane, she was pretty erratic, going in and out. She was a little green, but she ran huge.”
Sanchez, aboard Homeawayfromhome, claimed a foul against the winner, but the claim was not upheld. Hidden Overture paid $14.20 to win after covering the distance in 1:47.02 on good going.
-edited from www.drf.com