This will be Migliore's first Jockey Championship appearance. Velazquez's agent, Angel Cordero Jr., told Lone Star Park officials that his rider was slated to ride a 2-year-old for trainer Todd Pletcher at Belmont Park the same day as the Jockey Championship and could not make the event. The 12 jockeys now scheduled to participate are Robby Albarado, Russell Baze, Jorge Chavez, Ryan Fogelsonger, Eddie Martin Jr., Migliore, Edgar Prado, Jose Santos, Shane Sellers, Mike Smith, Alex Solis and Pat Valenzuela.
Richard Migliore, winner of more than 3,700 races and twice the leading rider in New York, will compete in the June 20 NTRA All-Star Jockey Championship at Lone Star Park. "The Mig" was named to replace fellow New York rider John Velazquez, who could not participate due to a prior commitment. Migliore, a 39-year-old New York native, has been a force on the New York Racing Association circuit for more than 20 years since winning the Eclipse Award as Outstanding Apprentice in 1981. He led the jockey standings at Aqueduct nine times and twice has been honored by the New York Turf Writers with the Eddie Arcaro Award as Outstanding Jockey. Migliore rode two New York-bred legends at Saratoga, Thunder Rumble and Fourstardave. Last year, he was the regular rider of popular Preakness Stakes runner-up Magic Weisner.
