John Velazquez Named TT TODAY Jockey of the Week

Feb 16th, 12
John Velazquez swept the two major graded stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday as he led all riders by North American purse earnings with $568,670 for the week ended Februar y 14.

Velazquez also was tied for second during the time period for most wins with eight.

For the year through Tuesday, Velazquez ranks second nationally by purse earnings with $1,750,090 and seventh by victories with 39 wins.

Velazquez, 40, captured the $500,000 Donn Handicap (G1) aboard Hymn Book on Saturday after winning the $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes (G2) with three-year-old colt Thunder Moccassin, giving him four graded stakes wins on the year thus far. He also won the Hal’s Hope Stakes (G3) and Forward Gal Stakes (G2) in January.

Velazquez, originally from Puerto Rico, won his first Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) in 2011 as he guided Animal Kingdom to victory. He also was the leading rider at the Saratoga Race Course meet last year.

Velazquez started riding competitively in 1988 after being admitted to the Puerto Rican jockey school. In 1990, he came to the U.S. to ride in New York, where he went on to win four straight NYRA riding titles from 2001-2004. He won the Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey in 2004 and 2005.