Veteran jockey Jorge Vargas recorded his 3,000th career victory Aug. 8 at Suffolk Downs when his mount Want Ad was elevated via disqualification to win the fourth race of the afternoon.
“That wasn’t how I wanted to get it,” said Vargas, a 53-year-old veteran of New England racing. “But it is been a long career with a lot of injuries and I’m just glad I made it here. It meant a lot to do this here at home.”
Want Ad, a 3-year-old son of Mass Media trained by Robert Monahan II, paid $28.60.
Vargas, a native of Puerto Rico, scored the first win of his stateside career on May 20, 1979, also at Suffolk Downs. In 1980, his 227 victories were second among all apprentice riders and he was the leading rider for the spring meet at Suffolk Downs, the first of his four meet titles at the East Boston oval.