Cristian Torres became the first jockey at the 2022-2023 Oaklawn meeting to surpass $4 million in purse earnings after winning three races Saturday.
Torres won the sixth race aboard Pink Ace ($7.80) for trainer Kenny McPeek, seventh race aboard Frosted Grace ($7.60) for trainer Robertino Diodoro, and the ninth race, the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3), aboard favored Last Samurai ($4) for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
The triple pushed Torres' purse earnings to $4,170,709 through Saturday, Day 45 of the scheduled 68-day meeting. Torres is chasing the single-season Oaklawn record ($5,643,023), set in 2021 by Ricardo Santana Jr. Santana has led all riders in purse earnings at every Oaklawn meeting since 2013.
In addition to purse earnings, Torres entered Sunday with meet highs for victories (65) and stakes victories (six). Torres, 25, is seeking his first career Oaklawn riding title. Francisco Arrieta, Oaklawn's co-leading rider last season, entered Sunday with 56 victories to rank second in the standings. Santana, an eight-time Oaklawn riding champion, was third with 42.
Torres captured his first career riding title in December at Remington Park.
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