Jockey Martin Garcia, 27-year-old native of Veracruz, Mexico, scored the milestone 1,000th victory of his career Thursday when he booted home Bubba Fizz in the second race at Del Mar.

Bubba Fizz, a two-year-old gelded son of Sunriver owned by JR Riley Stables and trained by Mike Mitchell, responded gamely to Garcia’s handling in the stretch to defeat Disarm by a head in the six furlong race over Del Mar’s main track. Third choice in the wagering, Bubba Fizz paid $12.40 to win.

Garcia, again solidly entrenched among the top riders at Del Mar this summer, garnered his first career triumph August 17, 2005 at Bay Meadows. He enjoyed considerable success in the San Francisco area before coming to Southern California. In 2006, his first season at Del Mar, he finishing second in the standings to champion Victor Espinoza.

Garcia, who didn’t begin his career until age 20, made it 1,001 wins in Thursday’s seventh race, clicking astride 7-1 longshot Royal Encounter, also trained by Mitchell. Royal Encounter paid $17.60 and gave the young rider his 19th victory this season and a tie for fourth spot in the standings.

That situation only lasted until the featured eighth race which Garcia also won, going wire-to-wire aboard Racing Aptitude for trainer Bob Baffert, giving him a triple for the afternoon, 1,002 career wins and his 20th triumph of the meeting and making him all alone in fourth place in the standings behind Rafael Bejarano, Joe Talamo and Garrett Gomez.

Racing Aptitude, owned by Donald R. Dizney, raced a mile and one-sixteenth on the grass in 1:40.18 in defeating Red Sun by a half-length in 1:40.13. Thirtyfirststreet was third, with 8-5 favored Lucky Primo a troubled fourth.

Thursday’s attendance totaled 8,557.