Jockey Javier Castellano broke the record for most wins during a Gulfstream meet March 17 when he won his 98th race of the season.
Castellano set the record aboard Repenter in the first race on the 72nd day of the meet. He shared the mark of 97 with Jerry Bailey (1996 over 64 days), Wigberto Ramos (1991 over 81 days), and Julio Pezua (1987 over 50 days).
“It’s a great day in my life,” Castellano said. “I’ve been doing so well lately. I’ve been so lucky. But I’ve had a lot of help from all the owners and trainers and my agent, Matt Muzikar. It’s been a great meeting. I won my 3,000th race and I’ve been riding a lot of good horses. I’m looking forward to my next goal, the Kentucky Derby. Hopefully, I can win it.”
Seven of Castellano's 98 victories during the 2011-2012 Gulfstream season have come in stakes races, notably the Holy Bull (gr. III) aboard Algorithms .
Castellano, a prominent rider on the New York-Gulfstream circuit, won the 2006 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) with Bernardini and rode his 3,000th winner earlier this winter. He began riding in Venezuela in 1996 before coming to the U.S. the next year.