While those on the east coast may recall the name Marvin Luna as a fill-in driver when the “big guns” were out of town, the now 22-year-old has upped his profile in the Midwest at tracks like The Red Mile, Oak Grove and Hoosier Park. Recently he was honored as 2023 leading driver by the Kentucky Harness Horsemen’s Association. Luna is currently splitting time between Red Mile and Hoosier. The New Jersey native has already doubled his win total (188 wins through 9/10) and earnings ($2,598,544) from 2023. The sky is the limit now for Luna, who took time to discuss his career and future on a rare off day from the bike. Enjoy! How did you get started in harness racing? My parents were involved in it their whole lives. My dad [Angel] was a groom and he took care of Betting Line for Casie Coleman. My mom [Vilma] was a groom as well but she remarried and lives in Guatemala. With your parents involved, was there ever a chance you wouldn’t work in the sport? I was never sure what I wanted to do career-wise until I was 16 or 17 and went to Indiana to work for Trent Stohler one summer. I asked him if I could train a horse and he said yeah. It was an experience like no other and I was hooked from that moment. I knew I wanted to be a driver. Your father, Trent Stohler and Tony Alagna have clearly played big roles in your career. What have you learned from each? I learned how to train and handle a horse from Trent; the basics. I then moved on to Tony Alagna and he taught me the most important thing, which is patience. That is what has made me the driver I am today.  My parents taught me hard work and I owe it to them. That is why I know I deserve this because I worked hard to get here. Going back to 2020 when you started, could you have imagined being one of the leading drivers at Hoosier just a few years later? No. I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve had at Hoosier and pretty happy that I’m one of the top four drivers there. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Why did you land at Hoosier? That is where my father lives currently. I started there because he had one mare which he said was super-nice in for Sire Stakes. I was just getting started at Red Mile but I told him I’d give it a shot. I went up to Hoosier to drive one horse Topville Ohsolucky [July 12, 2023]. We were a longshot [10-1] and finished second. I was through the roof and really happy. I was still working for Tony at the time so I was driving to Hoosier and back to Red Mile every week. Amazing that it was one horse that made it all possible, because of my dad. Recently you won six races on a card at The Red Mile. Is that a bit surreal looking back? Yeah, I think the most I won before was four, so winning six is a good feeling. It makes you want to keep doing it. What is your favorite track to race at? Why? The Red Mile for a couple of reason. First, I live five minutes from it. Second, I plan on making Lexington my forever home. The clay track is so nice; horses love it; drivers love it. There is a good atmosphere and it is just a good place to be. What is your favorite thing to do outside of harness racing? I like going out for drinks with my girlfriend Joanna Ricci. What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don’t know? I’m a cat person. What is one word that describes harness racing for you? Exciting. What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten about harness racing? Be patient. What was your best moment in harness racing? Winning is always good but recently I would say winning a $100,000 race at Oak Grove for Bob Stewart earlier this year with Hung Over. Which is the best horse you’ve ever driven? Seven Colors in the Dan Patch this year for Andrew Harris. Speaking of that race. Why didn’t you leave the gate hard that night? I wish the conditions were good and I would’ve. There was a strong wind at the top of the stretch and the front end wasn’t holding up. What I should’ve done is stay on the rail. I was just too far back. As of September 1 you’ve earned over $123K in driving commissions, more than double what you’ve earned in 2023. How does a windfall of money like that change your life? I’ve always been on the lower end in a poor income family so I never thought I’d see that kind of money. I knew I had it in me to be different from my family and be more financially stable. I’m just grateful that I can afford nicer things and live a better life. I read somewhere that your nickname is “little flea”. How do you feel about that moniker? They called my father flea because he is short and fast. Flea in Latin terms is what we call people who are fast and short. Because I was always around him they called me little flea. I like it. What is your ideal vision for the future of your career? I’d like to lean into more Grand Circuit racing. That’s the dream. If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what would it be? The way we advertise. There has to be a better way to advertise and get our message out to people. We need to reach more young faces. As a younger person, how do we reach that audience? For example, at The Red Mile they’ve promoted it a lot and done better this year. With college students coming they’ve had discounts on liquor and had dog racing. That brings new faces in. How do you view the future of harness racing? Maybe I’m a little biased but I hope it only gets better. Things are strong in Kentucky. They are even opening up a new training facility called Highbramble Park about 15 minutes from Red Mile, so I’m looking forward to the future. What does a day in the life of Marvin Luna look like? I have one of my own horses here at The Red Mile. I always like to have something to mess with and keep me busy. After I wake up and take care of my own horse at The Red Mile, usually I have to drive to Indiana around 1 o’clock. It takes me about three hours and I drive back and forth a lot. I’ll stay at Hoosier a couple of nights and come back. My life is all work with a little bit of fun. Time for the stretch drive… Best Horse you ever saw:  Bulldog Hanover. Lasix – Yes or No: Yes. Favorite TV Show: The Office. Trotters or Pacers:  Pacers. I like to go fast.