Hall of Famer Johnny Velazquez has had many milestone moments in his career but his 800th graded stakes win on Friday at Saratoga truly stands out. Velazquez added another graded stakes in the Beverly D (G2) as well as two additional stakes on the Colonial Downs Festival of Racing card Saturday.
The panel of racing experts voted Velazquez Jockey of the Week July 27-August 2.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher gave a leg up to Velazquez on Friday in the Amsterdam Stakes (G2) aboard Local Knowledge. Local Knowledge raced in second as American Man led the field of seven. Turning for home, American Man faded from contention as Solitude Dude and Local Knowledge battled down to wire with Local Knowledge prevailing by a short head in 1:14.89 for 6-1/2 furlongs giving Velazquez his 800th North American graded stakes win.
“Very blessed with all the opportunities I’ve been given riding all these horses” said Velazquez on reaching the milestone. “One day, I will look back and say, ‘I enjoyed that.’ Todd (Pletcher) and I have been together for twenty-something years, and he’s (been) very successful, we’ve been very successful together, so doing it with him was definitely special.”
On Saturday, Velazquez travelled to Colonial Downs for Festival of Racing Day. Riding for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, Velazquez was aboard Sabino Canyon in the Petramalo Mile for 3-year-olds going a mile on the dirt. Sabino Canyon and race favorite Bravaro raced in tandem down the stretch with Sabino Canyon posting a neck win in 1:35.24.
Duo Hall of Famer Mark Casse next gave a leg up to Velazquez aboard race favorite My Boy Prince in the Van Clief Stakes at 5-1/2 furlongs on the turf. Breaking from the outside post, My Boy Prince raced near the back of the field until the top of the stretch. Velazquez gave My Boy Prince his cue surging to a head victory over Victory Achieved in 1:01.74.
Velazquez was next aboard race favorite Gimme a Nother (SAF) for trainer Graham Motion in the Beverly D (G2). Gimme a Nother raced in mid-pack as the field approached the far turn. Gimme a Nother began to close furiously with Somethinabouther to her inside and with a perfectly timed ride, just got up in the final strides to win by a neck in 1:54.28 for the mile and three-sixteenths turf test.
Velazquez, with 801 North American graded stakes wins, sits at the top of the graded stakes list. To put that number in perspective, Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey is next with 660 wins when he retired. Active Hall of Famers Mike Smith (654 wins to date) and Javier Castellano (511 wins to date) complete the top four.
Velazquez will be riding at Saratoga this week with numerous opportunities to add to his graded stakes. He will also be riding Sunday at Mountaineer for a mount in the West Virginia Derby (G3).
Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Manny Franco with three stakes wins at Colonial Downs including the Secretariat (G2), Brian Hernandez, Jr. who won the Arlington Million (G1), Micah Husbands with a win in the Bing Crosby (G1) at Del Mar and Irad Ortiz, Jr. who won two graded stakes including the Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga.
Statistics provided by: Equibase/Photo: Susie Raisher/Coglianese Photo
