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Edgard Zayas’ Nine Wins Earn Jockey Of The Week Title

Edgard Zayas put an exclamation point on Gulfstream Park's Inaugural Fall Meet with another leading rider title earning him Jockey of the Week for Nov. 15 through Nov. 21. The honor, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

Zayas began the week extending his lead in the standing with a 4-win day on Thursday. Zayas swept the early double for trainers Eddie Plesa, Jr. and Saffie Joseph, Jr. He went on the post wins in races four and six also for Saffie Joseph, Jr. who won the leading trainer title at the Fall Meet.

Zayas continued accumulating wins on Friday for trainers Antonio Sano and Saffie Joseph, Jr. in races six and eight respectively. Saturday, trainer Darien Rodriguez gave a leg up to Zayas in race nine and on Closing Day Sunday, the Saffie Joseph, Jr. and Zayas duo combined to win two races.

A 28-year-old native of Puerto Rico, Zayas dominated the standings finishing with 43 wins, 14 more than his nearest rival and more than $1.2 million in purses. Zayas also won the leading rider title during Gulfstream Park's Spring/Summer Meet.

“I'm really happy and blessed. I'm really appreciative of all the opportunities I get from the owners and trainers,” Zayas said to the Gulfstream Park media. “The quality of horses in South Florida this time of year is getting better and I've been getting on some nice horses. Hopefully there are some big things coming up.”

Zayas is looking to improve on last year's 5th place finish during the Championship Meet at Gulfstream which begins on Friday, Dec. 3.

“I'm looking forward to the Championship Meet. I'm super, super excited,” said Zayas.

Zayas's weekly statistics were 26-9-3-5 for an in-the-money percentage of 65.3 and $228,750 in total purses.

Other nominees for Jockey of the Week were David Cabrera also with nine wins, Sonny Leon who posted the most wins with 10, Joel Rosario who won the G3 Chilukki at Churchill Downs and Pedro Terrero with an in-the-money percentage of 64.7

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Tyler Gaffalione Voted Jockey Of The Week After Record-Setting Six-Win Day

After winning the leading jockey title at Keeneland for the third time, Gaffalione moved on to Churchill Downs and kept the momentum going. Winning six races from his six mounts on Friday, Gaffalione was voted Jockey of the Week for Nov. 8 through Nov. 14. The honor, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

Gaffalione's six wins from six mounts put him in the Churchill Downs record book. Not since 1907 has a jockey at Churchill Downs won with all six of their mounts. The streak began with trainer Mike Maker in the first and second races when Gaffalione won with Not That Serious (paying $8.80) and Jazzy Lady ($4.40). In race three he rode for trainer Rodolphe Brisset aboard Cousteau ($4.80). With no mount in the fourth, he continued his streak in the fifth race on Megan's Clara ($4.60) for trainer Joe Sharp and Candy Tycoon ($10.80) in the sixth race for Norm Casse. He finished the day with Sarah Harper ($3.00) for trainer Ron Moquett in the seventh race. His mounts in races eight and nine were scratched.

Speaking to the Churchill Downs publicity department after his historic day, Gaffalione said: “I was joking with the guys in the room that I wanted to ride one more and get the record. It was a really good day at the track.”

Gaffalione extended his win streak into Saturday with a victory in the first race aboard Alberta Sun for trainer Mike Maker. He also won the fourth race with Absolute Love for trainer Joe Sharp and finished the weekend on Sunday on a winning note aboard Fast and Flirty in the ninth race for trainer Brendan Walsh. Gaffalione now sits atop the Churchill standings tied with Mitchell Murrill with 13 wins. He has won every leading rider title at Churchill since 2020 spring.

Gaffalione's stats for the week were 32-10-7-2 and total purses of $592,265.

After the Churchill Downs meet ends on Nov. 28, Gaffalione, the 2015 Eclipse Award Outstanding Apprentice, heads back home to Gulfstream Park to ride their four-month Championship Meet that begins Dec. 3. He rode seven winners there on July 4, 2017.

Other nominees for Jockey of the Week were John R. Davila, Jr. with a 50 percent win rate, Marcelino Pedroza, Jr. who tied with Gaffalione for total number of wins, Joel Rosario who led all jockeys in purse earnings and Andrew Wolfsont who won the Artie Schiller Stakes at Aqueduct on longshot Mandate.

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Jockeys Across America To Honor Late Miguel Mena This Saturday

In memory of jockey Jose Miguel Mena and to support his family, jockeys at racetracks around the country on Saturday, Nov. 13, will be wearing black armbands emblazoned with his nickname, “Cholo.”

Mena was tragically killed in a vehicular accident in Louisville, Kentucky on Oct. 31, 2021.

“Miguel was a longtime member of the Jockeys' Guild and a valued member of each and every jockey colony where he rode,” said Jockeys' Guild President and CEO Terry Meyocks. “We hope this show of support and affection will bring some comfort to his immediate family, his wife April and daughters Naelah and Montserret as well as his many friends throughout the racing industry.”

Jockeys Jose and Irad Ortiz also honored Mena at last weekend's Breeders' Cup World Championships, emulating his signature winning pose when crossing the wire.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. honors late jockey Miguel Mena as he crosses the wire first in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile with Life Is Good

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Irad Ortiz, Jr. Voted Jockey Of The Week After Fourth Straight Shoemaker Award

Three-time Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz, Jr. travelled to the West Coast from his base in New York for the races at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club during Breeders' Cup week. He returned to New York having won four stakes at Del Mar and put an exclamation point on his outstanding week by winning a stakes race at Belmont Park on Sunday. His accomplishments earned Jockey of the Week Nov. 1 through Nov. 7. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

Breeders' Cup weekend began with “Future Stars Friday” with all stakes races dedicated to two-year-olds. Riding for trainer John Sadler, Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Big Switch in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies Presented by PNC. Off in post position six in the field of eight, Big Switch took command in upper stretch and drew off to a convincing 2-3/4 lengths victory in 1:22.39 for six furlongs.

”I didn't have to do much,” said Ortiz. “I had a good trip. She just ran and that's all there was to it.”

Trainer Wesley Ward and Ortiz, Jr. combined for the third straight year to win the G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. This year Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Twilight Gleaming (IRE). The fastest out of the gate, Twilight Gleaming (IRE) led all the way to win by a half-length over Go Bears Go covering the five furlongs on the turf in :56.24.

On Saturday, the duo of trainer Wesley Ward and Ortiz, Jr. struck again with Golden Pal in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Golden Pal went right to the lead and was never pressured, posting a 1-1/4-length win for the five furlongs on the turf in: 54.75.

“I was happy to get the lead easily and he responded to me when I asked him for the run down the stretch,” said Ortiz, Jr.

The next race saw Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher give a leg up to Ortiz, Jr. on Life Is Good in the G1 Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Life Is Good took command out of the gate and cruised to 5-3/4 lengths victory after a mild challenge from Ginobili.

“I had the perfect trip,” said Ortiz, Jr. “When we go to the quarter pole, he re-broke for me. What a nice horse to ride.”

Ortiz, Jr. was awarded the Bill Shoemaker Award for the fourth year in a row as Outstanding Jockey at the Breeders' Cup.

Back to Belmont Park on Sunday, Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Orglandes (FR) for trainer Chad Brown in the Zagora for fillies and mares three-years-old and up going 1-1/2 miles on the Widener turf. Off as the favorite in the field of seven, Orglandes (FR) got up right before the wire to win by a neck over Beautiful Love and Joel Rosario in 2:29.28. Ortiz, Jr. also collected the leading rider title at Belmont Park.

Ortiz, Jr. outpolled Mitchell Murrill with the most wins for the week, Jose L. Ortiz with two G1 Breeders' Cup victories, Joel Rosario with two G1 Breeders' Cup wins and Chantal Sutherland with nine wins for the week.

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