August, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Junior Alvarado Wins 2023 Mike Venezia Award

Veteran jockey Junior Alvarado has been named the winner of the 2023 Mike Venezia Memorial Award. Alvarado, based this summer at Saratoga Race Course and the regular rider of GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Cody's Wish, was chosen by a committee comprised of members of the Venezia family, representatives of the Jockeys' Guild and retired Eclipse Award-winning jockey Richard Migliore. Alvarado will be recognized in a winner's circle ceremony at Saratoga Saturday.

“The Venezia Memorial Award is about representing the sport we love so much in the best way possible,” said Alvarado. “I am thankful and proud to be chosen as this year's winner and I look forward to celebrating with my family and thanking the Venezia family here at Saratoga Race Course.”

The Mike Venezia Memorial Award is presented annually by the New York Racing Association to a jockey who displays the extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship that personified Venezia, who died as the result of injuries suffered in a spill in 1988. Venezia, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., won more than 2,300 races during his 25-year career.

“Junior is a true professional at what he does, both as a top jockey and as a role model,” said Terry Meyocks, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Jockeys' Guild. “The winners of the Venezia Award are ambassadors for Thoroughbred racing; they're champions on and off the track. We welcome Junior to the ranks of those who have previously been honored with the Venezia Award.”

A native of Barquisimeto, Venezuela and the son of jockey Rafael Alvarado, Junior Alvarado, 37, rode his first winner in 2005 at La Rinconada Hippodrome in Caracas before moving to the U.S. in 2007 when he rode his first winner at Gulfstream Park. After earning the 2009 riding title at Arlington Park, Alvarado moved to New York in 2010 and he has been a mainstay on the circuit ever since, winning the 2014 GI Whitney S. on Moreno and racking up more than 1,400 wins and more than $106 million in earnings at the NYRA tracks. For his career, Alvarado has more than 2,000 wins and more than $126.9 million in earnings.

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‘Top Jockey,’ ‘Role Model’: Junior Alvarado Wins 2023 Mike Venezia Memorial Award

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that veteran jockey Junior Alvarado is the winner of the 2023 Mike Venezia Memorial Award.

Alvarado, based this summer at Saratoga Race Course and the regular jockey of top thoroughbred Cody's Wish, was chosen by a committee comprised of members of the Venezia family, representatives of The Jockeys' Guild and retired Eclipse Award-winning jockey Richard Migliore. Alvarado will be recognized in a winner's circle ceremony at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, September 2.

The Mike Venezia Memorial Award is presented annually to a jockey who displays the extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship that personified Venezia, who died as the result of injuries suffered in a spill in 1988. Venezia, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., won more than 2,300 races during his 25-year career.

“Junior is a true professional at what he does, both as a top jockey and as a role model,” said Terry Meyocks, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Jockeys' Guild. “The winners of the Venezia Award are ambassadors for Thoroughbred racing; they're champions on and off the track. We welcome Junior to the ranks of those who have previously been honored with the Venezia Award.”

A native of Barquisimeto, Venezuela and the son of jockey Rafael Alvarado, Junior Alvarado, 37, rode his first winner in 2005 at La Rinconada Hippodrome in Caracas before moving to the U.S. in 2007 when he rode his first winner at Gulfstream Park. After earning the 2009 riding title at Arlington Park, Alvarado moved to New York in 2010 and he has been a mainstay on the circuit ever since, winning the 2014 Whitney Stakes on Moreno; and racking up more than 1,400 wins and more than $106 million in earnings at the NYRA tracks. For his career, Alvarado has more than 2,000 wins and more than $126.9 million in earnings.

Riding Cody's Wish and the late Art Collector for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has helped send Alvarado's career to a whole new level. He recorded his first career Breeders' Cup victory in 2022 guiding Cody's Wish to a hard-fought victory over Cyberknife in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland. Alvarado also was aboard Cody's Wish for victories in a series of other Grade 1 races, most recently in this year's Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, the Churchill Downs at its namesake track; and the 2022 Forego at Saratoga. Those four Grade 1 races were part of a six-race win streak put together by Cody's Wish, all with Alvarado aboard. Riding Art Collector for Mott, Alvarado won the 2023 Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park.

The Venezia Memorial Award is a 13-inch bronze sculpture with a title that reads, “The Jockey, A Champion.” Alvarado joins a legendary group of riders who have won the award previously, led by Venezia, who posthumously earned the inaugural award in 1989. Other winners include Bill Shoemaker, Chris McCarron, Angel Cordero, Jr., Jerry Bailey, Mike Smith, Pat Day, Laffit Pincay, Jr., Robbie Davis, Eddie Maple, Jorge Chavez, Mike Luzzi, Dean Kutz, Gary Stevens, Richard Migliore, Patti Cooksey, Edgar Prado, Ramon Dominguez, John Velazquez, Jon Court, Mario Pino, Joe Bravo, Javier Castellano, Kendrick Carmouche, DeShawn Parker and the 2022 winner, Julien Leparoux.

For Migliore, the 2003 Venezia Memorial Award winner who is now with NYRA TV, the award carries on the memory of Venezia.

“As a young jockey, I watched and learned countless lessons from Mike Venezia, someone I continue to admire today,” said Migliore. “The Venezia Award is a reminder that Mike's considerable legacy endures. On behalf of the past winners of this prestigious award, I congratulate Junior on this richly deserved honor.”

The 2023 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course continues through Monday, September 4.

For additional information, visit NYRA.com.

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Thursday’s Insights: Constitution Colt Looks To Author Juvenile Score

10th-KD, $150K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 6:28 p.m.
The European-style grass course situated on the Kentucky side of the southern border with Tennessee cards a maiden finale which draws $450,000 Keeneland September graduate from last year, PUBLIUS (Constitution). Bred by Twin Creeks Farm, the bay colt debuts out of Sharp Instinct (Awesome Again), who is the dam of seven winners from nine to race. The Brad Cox trainee, ridden by Florent Geroux, is a half-brother to GIII Excelsior S. hero Send It In (Big Brown).

Also entered is the well-bred Tapitoro (Tapit), who was purchased by De Meric Sales for $170,000 at the Keeneland September Sale and was pinhooked for $300,000 during OBS April Sale. Trained by Brian Lynch and ridden by James Graham, the gray colt is a half-sibling to Canadian champion turf male and GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile winner El Tormenta (Stormy Atlantic), GIII Las Cienegas S. victor Zero Tolerance (Mizzen Mast) and Strut the Ring (Strut the Stage).

Out of an extended female family which includes Canadian Horse of the Year Dance Smartly (Danzig), multiple leading sire Smart Strike (Mr. Prospector) and champion 2-year-old colt trio Sky Classic (Nijinsky II), Regal Classic (Vice Regent) and Grey Classic (Grey Dawn II), Tapitoro's dam Torreadora (El Prado {Ire}) is a half-sister to MGSW His Race To Win (Stormy Atlantic) and the dam of MSW Galilean (Uncle Mo). TJCIS PPS

2nd-SAR, $136K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:44 p.m.
Up at Saratoga, first timer Paradise Lane (Quality Road) will debut for Hall fo Fame trainer Bill Mott with regular rider Junior Alvarado up. Bred and part-owned by Pam and Martin Wygod, the bay filly is the first offspring out of GI Santa Anita Oaks and GI Zenyatta S. heroine and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags). Second dam Wild Forest (Forest Wildcat) is a half-sister to GSW and English GSW Tajaaweed (Dynaformer) and digging a little deeper under the fourth dam we find MGSW and GISP Mr. Greeley (Gone West) and GISW Mona de Momma (Speightstown). TJCIS PPS

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NYRA Bets Late Pick 5 Bonus Jumps To $3 Million For Sunday’s Card

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that the NYRA Bets Late Pick 5 bonus will be increased to $3 million on Sunday, Sept. 3.

Sunday's $3 million Late Pick Five Bonus is available exclusively to NYRA Bets members. In addition to the pari-mutuel payout, the bonus will be paid out should a single winner capture the Late Pick 5 on September 3. To qualify for the $3 million bonus, the wager must be placed through NYRA Bets.

The $3 million NYRA Bets Late Pick 5 will be offered only on Sunday, September 3.

The NYRA Bets $1 million Late Pick 5 bonus began in July at Saratoga Race Course and has been available to NYRA Bets customers every Saturday and Sunday throughout the 2023 summer meet.

For additional information on the Late Pick 5 and eligibility details for the $3 million single-winner bonus, please visit nyrabets.com/million.

Launched as a national advance deposit wagering platform (ADW) in 2016 and currently available to customers in 36 states, NYRA Bets provides fans the opportunity to wager on horse racing from anywhere at any time. The NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at NYRABets.com.

The 2023 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course will continue through Monday, September 4. Labor Day weekend will feature a special 12:40 p.m. post time, highlighted by the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on Saturday; the Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway on Sunday; and the traditional Closing Day feature, the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful on Monday.

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