Jockey Eibar Coa and agent Matt Muzikar have parted ways, Coa confirmed at Keeneland Race Course April 11. Muzikar represented the 38-year-old native of Venezuela on the New York circuit since 2005.
“Eibar and I were together four years and those were four great years,” the agent said. “We won a lot of stakes races and a lot of money and I appreciated my time with him. But he and I were going different directions, and it was time for a change.”
“I have no complaints at all,” said Coa, who has retained the services of agent Drew Mollica. “Sometimes things just happen.”
With Muzikar holding his book, Coa led all riders in New York in 2006 and 2007. In 2006, he became only the fourth jockey in history to win more than 300 races on that circuit in a single season. Coa finished the 2008 season ninth in the national standings. At this point in the season he ranks 20th by earnings with 49 wins from 331 mounts and a 15% win rate.
Mollica recently held Richard Migliore’s book, and his list of former clients includes top riders such as Jose Santos, Joe Bravo, and the late Chris Antley.
“Richie and I parted ways amicably,” Mollica said. “He understood this is a great opportunity for me – he’s a great guy and he has Hall of Fame credentials.”
Migliore has not yet selected an agent, and Muzikar has not yet found a rider, although according to sources he has been in talks with jockey Edgar Prado. Prado, who is currently represented by Bob Frieze, declined to comment on the situation at Keeneland April 11.
Also switching agents in the New York colony were Cornelio Velasquez, who will now be represented by agent Kevin Meyocks, and jockey Rajiv Maragh, who will be represented by Velasquez’s former agent, Richard DePass.
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