Nothing – not even a 3 ½-hour delay at JFK International Airport Saturday night – could bring jockey Alan Garcia back to Earth after his victory aboard longshot Da’ Tara in the 140th Belmont Stakes.

The 22-year-old jockey, who had booked the trip to his native Peru even before he got the mount aboard Da’Tara, passed the time signing autographs and posing for pictures with countrymen who recognized him from that afternoon’s stunning upset of Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown.

“It was a fun experience,” said Garcia, who originally had been slated to ride Tomcito in the Belmont, but lost that chance when the colt was declared from the race. “People had their cameras and wanted to take pictures with me, and asked me to sign my autograph … that was something new for me.”

New, and hopefully, not unique. Last year, in his first full year riding in New York since leaving Peru in 2003, Garcia rode 235 winners of more than $11.8 million, including his first Grade 1 victories in the Flower Bowl Invitational and the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf aboard Lahudood. (He also was the last jockey to ride 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide, who took the Wadsworth Memorial Handicap at Finger Lakes on July 4.)

Currently the second-leading rider at Belmont Park’s Spring/Summer meet, Garcia captured his third Grade 1 win when he piloted Divine Park to upset the Nick Zito-trained Commentator in the Met Mile. Zito then turned around and named Garcia – who had ridden Da’ Tara to a second-place finish in his very first start at age 2 – on the colt early during Belmont week.

“He was open, and you know, he was one of the top riders in New York,” said Zito, explaining his decision. “He was riding terrific. He beat me in the Met Mile. That was one of the races. I don’t know. I just do things. Don’t ask me, but he’s raced, and his event was very good, and I thought, well, just let me hang around this kid and maybe he can do it for me.”

Zito’s instructions were simple: Go to the front.

“Da’ Tara was galloping along so nicely, so comfortably,” recalled Garcia. “I kept waiting for Big Brown. I told myself, ‘Be patient.’ But by the quarter-pole, I started looking for him, and he wasn’t coming. I finally peeked at the big screen in the infield and saw I was in front by five lengths and said, ‘We’re going to win!’

“I was just so thankful to everyone, Mr. Zito, Mr. (Robert) La Penta, for giving me the opportunity to ride this horse and giving me a chance to win on the biggest day with the longest shot,” he added with a smile. “It’s something I will never, ever forget.”

After visiting Da’ Tara back in the stable area after the race, and spending some time at a party given by trainer Bobby Barbara, Garcia headed to the airport, and, after the delay and a seven-hour flight, finally landed in Lima, where he was given a hero’s welcome by his family, his friends, and anyone else who had watched the simulcast of the race.

“My mother, my father, my sisters, everyone was so excited to see me,” he said. “They kept telling me how happy and proud of me they were.”

Garcia was given a warm welcome when he returned to riding Wednesday at Belmont Park, as well.

“Before my first race, people were calling out to me to say ‘Thank you’ and ‘Good job’,” he said. “It kept that moment alive for me. I think it will always be special, just like the victory in the Breeders’ Cup will be special. And I hope there will be more like it!”