June 4, 1999
The up-and-coming Uriel Moreno "El Zapata" turned it on, last Sunday, in Plaza El Toreo de Tijuana, registering a very impressive triumph and delivering a strong message that he is on the verge of becoming a top-rated matador.
Zapata alternated with Luis Fernando Sánchez and Enrique Garza, facing a herd of beautiful looking, but deceptively difficult, cárdenos from Piedras Negras and a very good substitute from Hernando Limón. Each animal exploded into the arena, projecting the unrequited promise that it would provide a good lídia. Ranging from 435 to 485 kilos, they attacked the picadores' horses with gusto. But, in the third acts, they were totally out of gas.
Luis Fernando Sánchez
The first of the day, Fumador, allowed senior sword Sánchez to offer some good Verónicas. But, in the third act, the animal was impossible. The matador worked hard, but could not encourage the toro to make a clean charge, so he gave it the proper lídia of doubling passes. A good, although slightly caída sword placement, closed the doors on fumador. Applause.
By the time that his second toro, Almendro, entered the arena, all three matadores realized that the animals could accept only a very soft pic. Luis Fernando opened with nice Verónicas and a good set of Chicuelinas at the quite. He followed with an excellent faena to the brave, but tricky, bull, completing the action with a good sword and winning a well-deserved ear.
Enrique Garza
Last season's triunfador didn't seem to be in the mood to torear. In spite of drawing the best bulls of the afternoon, great banderillas placements were his only highlights. Tejón, the largest bull of the day, was afforded rather timid Verónicas, with Garza losing terrain on each lance. He exchanged banderillas placements with El Zapata, with each matador placing two pair in excellent style.
But, in the third act, Garza put the spectators to sleep. Garza didn't realize even a small percentage of the bull's potential. Failing to give the animal proper salidas from his muletazos, and never imposing on the bull, resulted in a boring faena. He didn't torear, he just gave passes. Garza did kill with an excellent sword, but received only applause for his rather wimpy efforts.
His second bull, from Limón, was the best of the day. A castaño, the animal had a straight, honest charge that should have translated to a great triumph. But, Garza avoided success with another mostly boring faena. Only in the last half of the performance did the matador invest any emotion. And, once again, he failed to give the animal proper exits from the muletazos.
Garza did kill well, but the ear that was awarded was more for the quality of the animal, rather than the matador.
El Zapata
The always enthusiastic and very athletic Uriel Moreno received Escribano with three excellent faroles de rodillas, although the third one was an accident that the matador ad-libbed. He followed with good Verónicas and the media Verónica. After one pic, his quite of Gaoneras, climazed with a serpentina, were excellent. He exchanged banderillas placements with Garza, with each doing very well.
But, in the third act, Escribano, as its bothers, was aplomado in the third act, limiting El Zapata to a varied faena. The matador encountered problems with the sword and heard a warning aviso from the judge's box.
The last bull of the day, Notario, was received with wonderful Verónicas, followed, at the quite, with an excellent set of Chicuelinas. It was obvious that El Zapata was in charge. After placing banderillas, very well, the matador entered the third act, determined to triumph. The faena that followed was seemingly choreographed, with Zapata running the hand long and demonstrating grand temple, as he totally dominated the bull.
It was a long faena, punctuated by unanimous olés and music. El Zapata realized all that the toro was capable of giving. But, when the matador missed the first sword entry, he attempted to redeem himself by giving another series, on his knees. This proved to be a bad decision, or the bull caught and mauled him, but failed to deliver a comada. The next sword placement felled the bull, and El Zapata was granted a pair of ears.
It was a fine afternoon, one that again demonstrated that plaza judge Jaime Gonzalez is very serious about his job, and surrendered ears only when the crowd petition was strong.
Likewise, the plaza gendarme did an excellent job of controlling the unruly Memorial Day weekend crowd.
TORO TOPICS
The next Tijuana card, June 13, will feature Rejoneador Giovani Eloy, the very popular senior citizen Eloy Cavazos, and newcomers Alfredo Gutierrez and Oscar San Roman.
Bad news for Rejoneador Gastón Santos and his nephew, Rodrigo. Gastón suffered grave injuries in an auto accident in Montana, and is expected to be in the hospital for at least a month. And, Rodrigo shot and killed a policeman, during a brawl, and has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.
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