Cristian Torres became the fastest jockey in Oaklawn history to reach $1 million in purse earnings at a meet when he scored a riding double last Saturday.
Torres ($1,072,393) reached seven figures on Day 11 of the scheduled 68-day season after guiding Lovely Ride to a three-quarter length victory in the $150,000 Pippin Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles for trainer Robertino Diodoro. Torres had earlier won Saturday's second race aboard Arthurian, which marked Diodoro's 3,000th career North American victory, according to Equibase, racing's official data gathering organization.
Florent Geroux had previously been the fastest jockey to reach $1 million in purse earnings at Oaklawn, hitting seven figures ($1,003,754) on Day 12 of the 2021-2022 meeting.
“Robertino is a great trainer and I've very happy to ride for him,” Torres said following the Pippin. “He always does a great job. He knows where to put the horses. It's very nice to win for him today.”
Torres ($1,111,060) has already established a single-season Oaklawn personal best for purse earnings, eclipsing his previous high ($1,034,104) in 2021, his debut meet in Hot Springs. Torres' mounts earned $920,548 during an injury-shortened 2021-2022 meeting.
Torres also tops the 2022-2023 standings in victories (15) and stakes victories (four) after the first 12 days of the meeting. Three of the stakes victories have been for Diodoro. Jockey Francisco Arrieta ($1,029,122) surpassed $1 million in purse earnings at the meet last Sunday. Arrieta was Oaklawn's co-leading rider last season and is third in 2022-2023 with 13 victories.
The post Cristian Torres Fastest Jockey In Oaklawn History To $1 Million In Purse Earnings appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
