Pincay Is One Short

There was a celebration involving Laffit Pincay on Wednesday at Hollywood Park.

Only it wasn’t the one the entire racing world is awaiting.

Laffit Pincay III, the eldest son of the Hall of Fame jockey, was presented with a cake by the track on his 24th birthday, but the party everyone came to see will have to wait at least another day.

Laffit Pincay Jr. was able to win only once Wednesday, leaving him with 8,832 career victories, one shy of Bill Shoemaker’s record.

After finishing second, fourth and seventh with his first three mounts, Pincay edged closer when Millie’s Quest, a 2-year-old filly making her U.S. debut after running three times in France, overcame a bad start to win the sixth race as the 2-1 second choice.

With an opportunity to tie or pass Shoemaker in the final two races of the day, Pincay, who will turn 53 later this month, was fourth on Shifty Hussey, then eighth on Writehof in the eighth and final race.

Given that it was his son’s birthday and Mother’s Day in his native Panama, Pincay would have loved to have moved to 8,834 on Wednesday, but he was hardly disappointed after completing his day’s work.

“I feel great,” he said. “It’s only one [to tie Shoemaker], so I know some day I’m going to get there. I don’t feel any pressure. I’m very relaxed and riding with a lot of confidence.

“I wanted to do it today, but it wasn’t my day today. It was still fun. I’ll go home tonight, have a little dinner, go to bed about 10 or 10:30 and come back [today].”

Pincay has four mounts this afternoon and his best chance for success--according to morning line maker Russ Hudak--is with I Be Casual, the 2-1 favorite in the fourth race.

Millie’s Quest trailed for the first half-mile after her slow start, saved ground the entire trip, cut through along the inside and was up to beat 11-10 favorite Arta by a half-length.

“She’s a very nice filly to overcome all that and win,” Pincay said. “I was able to get through inside and she came very strong at the end.”