Position Limit Tops Adirondack Foes
Favored Position Limit improved to two-for-two in her brief career when she overpowered nine rivals in the $150,000 Adirondack Stakes (gr. II) for a five-length victory Aug. 15 at Saratoga.
John Velazquez
News, Articles, Videos and other content about John Velazquez
Discreetly Mine an Easy Winner of Amsterdam
With a newfound career sprinting following a 13th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), Discreetly Mine notched his second graded stakes win in a row with an easy win in the Aug. 2 Amsterdam Stakes (gr. II) at the Spa.
Malibu Prayer Wings Way to Ruffian Victory
Malibu Prayer turned back 3-5 favorite Unrivaled Belle in upper stretch and held on gamely to win the $250,000 Ruffian Handicap (gr. I) Aug. 1 to give owner/breeder Edward P. Evans a second major victory at the Spa.
A Little Warm Stays Hot in Jim Dandy
A Little Warm outlasted 15-1 longshot Miner's Reserve to score his first graded stakes win under John Velazquez in the Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) July 31 at Saratoga.
Perfect Shirl Sweeps to Lake George Win
Charles Fipke's homebred Perfect Shirl, a maiden when the summer began, notched her third consecutive win and made a successful stakes debut when taking the Lake George (gr. IIT) for 3-year-old fillies July 28 at Saratoga.
Life At Ten Cruises in Delaware 'Cap
Life At Ten earned a berth in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I) with her victory July 17 in the Delaware Handicap (gr. II) at Delaware Park.
Discreetly Mine Has Good Day at Jersey Shore
Discreetly Mine, whose bid to capture a classic earlier this year was unsuccessful, returned to the winner's circle for the first time since February when he scored in the Jersey Shore Stakes (gr. III).
Devil May Care Takes Mother Goose
Devil May Care took over from stablemate Katy Now at the top of the lane and bounded home for an impressive victory in the $250,000 Mother Goose (gr. I) June 26 at Belmont Park in her first start since the Kentucky Derby.
Lady Shakespeare Writes Perfect NY Finish
Last at the top of the stretch, Charles Fipke's homebred Lady Shakespeare rolled past all three rivals inside the sixteenth-pole en route to a 2 3/4-length victory in the $150,000 New York Stakes (gr. IIT) June 19 at Belmont.
No Catching Life At Ten in Ogden Phipps
Life At Ten overcame a slight stumble at the start to record her fifth consecutive win and first grade I score in the $250,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont Park June 12.
Handle Still Strong at Monmouth; Ibboyee Wins
Monmouth Park followed its record-breaking opening day with another strong showing May 23. A total of $7,046,389 was wagered on the 11-race program, an increase of 126% over the corresponding day last year.
Lou Brissie Rallies to Take Kentucky Juvenile
Son of Limehouse rolls to a 1 1/2-length win at Churchill Downs to score his second consecutive victory.
Devil May Care: Kentucky Derby Only
Johnny Greathouse and trainer Todd Pletcher confirm that their star filly, Devil May Care, will be entered only in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and not cross-entered in the Oaks (gr. I).
Eskendereya Out of Derby
Eskendereya, favored for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will not run in the May 1 classic due to a slight filling in his left front leg, according to Todd Pletcher.
Devil May Care: Could Go Either Way
Johnny Greathouse and trainer Todd Pletcher are still unsure whether Devil May Care will run in the Oaks or Derby after her 1:00 1/5 drill Saturday morning in the slop at Churchill Downs
Eskendereya to Work Sunday Morning
A sloppy surfaces causes Todd Pletcher to delay the final Derby work of likely favorite Eskendereya until Sunday; Interactif to drill April 25 as well
Rule Works 5f in 1:00 Under Melancon
WinStar Farm's homebred Rule drills five furlongs in the slop at Churchill Downs Saturday morning in 1:00.
Musketier Shows No Rust in Elkhorn Victory
Eight-year-old Musketier showed no signs of rust coming back from a more than six-month layoff, as he took over approaching the stretch and bounded home for a win in the Elkhorn Stakes (gr. IIT) on closing day at Keeneland.
Lady Shakespeare Notches Bewitch Victory
Charles Fipke's Lady Shakespeare stalked pacesetter Changing Skies for more than 11 furlongs, then overtook the leader in mid-stretch en route her first graded stakes victory in the $150,000 Grey Goose Bewitch Stakes
Devil May Care: A Filly Worth Holding On To
Devil May Care is currently ranked fifth on the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) graded stakes earnings list.
Eskendereya Romps in Wood Memorial
Zayat Stables' Eskendereya likely solidified himself as the horse to beat in next month's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) by romping past five overmatched rivals in the $750,000 Wood Memorial (gr. I) April 3 at Aqueduct.
Devil May Care Rebounds in Bonnie Miss
Overlooked at odds of 7-1, Glencrest Farm's Devil May Care took over at the top of the stretch and bounded away to a 2 3/4-length victory in the $200,000 Bonnie Miss Stakes (gr. II) March 20 at Gulfstream Park.
Eskendereya Spurts Away in Fountain of Youth
Eskendereya shook off Jackson Bend rounding the final turn of the $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park and romped home by 8 1/2 lengths under John Velazquez Feb.20.
Lentenor Entered to Run Feb. 17 in Florida
The colt will compete in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race at Gulfstream Park.
Gulfstream to Assist Haitian Relief Effort
Gulfstream Park officials will present a check for $10,000 to the American Red Cross Jan. 31 to support local and national efforts on behalf of victims of the earthquake in Haiti.
Barbaro's Brother, Lentenor, Breaks Maiden
Lentenor, a full brother to ill-fated 2006 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Barbaro, broke his maiden impressively on the turf Jan. 20 at Gulfstream Park.
Fresh Start for Quality Road in Hal's Hope
In his first race since his famous starting gate tantrum prior to the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), Quality Road was much the best in the $100,000 Hal's Hope Stakes (gr. III), winning by 2 3/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park.
Rule Measures Up in Tight Delta Jackpot Win
Even-money choice Rule took the $750,000 Boyd Gaming's Delta Jackpot (gr. III) in tenacious style at chilly Delta Downs Dec. 4, winning a virtual match race with Uh Oh Bango by a neck on a sloppy track.
McLaughlin, Velazquez Sweep Valley View
Eye of Taurus, a 13-1 shot, stole the second leg of the $125,000 Pin Oak Valley View (gr. IIIT), giving trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and jockey John Velazquez a sweep of both divisions of the Oct. 23 feature for 3-year-old fillies at Keeneland.
Late Run Earns Pyro Forego Victory
Pyro, one of the favorites in last year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), captured his first stakes in more than a year when he came from off the pace and out-finished Kodiak Kowboy in the $300,000 Forego (gr. I) Sept. 5 at Saratoga.
Travers Jockeys to Support Michael Straight
Jockeys riding in the $1-million Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. I) have pledged 10% of their purse earnings from the race to establish a fund for 23-year-old apprentice jockey Michael Straight, who was critically injured in a fall at Arlington Park Aug. 26.
Victory Ride: Sara Louise Returns With a Bang
Sara Louise, the last horse to defeat superstar filly Rachel Alexandra, returned from a nine-month layoff in sparkling fashion, coming from off the pace to score the $110,000 Victory Ride (gr. III) Aug. 29 at Saratoga.
Quality Road Smashes Record in Amsterdam
The son of Elusive Quality broke a 30-year-old track record for six and half furlongs at Saratoga in his first start since winning the Florida Derby (gr. I) back in March. The former record of 1:14 2/5 was set by Topsider on Aug. 1, 1979.
Captain's Lover Romps in Sloppy Matchmaker
Team Valor International's Captain's Lover made her dirt debut a winning one, as she took over at the quarter-pole and sloshed her way to a seven-length victory in the $200,000 Taylor Made Matchmaker Aug. 2 at Monmouth Park.
Belmont Jockeys Testing Padded Crops
Jockeys at Belmont Park this week began testing padded crops designed to be gentler on horses, according to a press rlease issued by the New York Racing Association July 10. The goal is to fully implement the new equipment by the start of the six-week Saratoga meeting on July 29.
Munnings Brushes Off His Tom Fool Foes
Everything went Munning's way in the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park July 5. First, top sprinter Fabulous Strike, the heavy favorite, was scratched by trainer Todd Beattie. Then came a perfect trip for jockey John Velazquez, who drove the sharp 3-year-old colt through an inside gap at the top of the stretch on their way to a comfortable win.
Ward Does it Again at Royal Ascot
Just 24 hours earlier, trainer Wesley Ward had warned that Jealous Again was much better than his historic Windsor Castle Stakes winner Strike The Tiger and on June 17 the 2-year-old Trippi filly proved these were not empty words when bolting from the gate to go clear of her rivals in the five-furlong Queen Mary Stakes (Eng-II) at Royal Ascot before kicking on again for an easy five-length victory.
Strike the Tiger Makes History at Royal Ascot
History was made in the June 16 Windsor Castle Stakes (Eng-Listed) over five furlongs on good to firm turf on the first day of Royal Ascot, when 33-1 Strike The Tiger became the first ever American-trained horse to win at the meeting when holding on by a neck to beat Fratellino.
Ravalo Gamely Takes Maryland Sprint 'Cap
Lindy Redding's speedy Ravalo employed a stalking trip to gamely win the $100,000 Maryland Sprint Handicap (gr. III) at Pimlico Race Course May 16.
Quality Road Out of Derby Contention
Quality Road, who figured to be among the top choices for Saturday's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) will not start in the Run for the Roses, it was confirmed Monday morning by Chris Baker, farm manager of Edward Evans' Spring Hill Farm. Jockey John Velazquez will now ride Mr. Hot Stuff.
Inaugural Jockey Challenge Scheduled
Eight of the nation's top jockeys, including Eclipse Award winners Kent Desormeaux, Edgar Prado, Garrett Gomez, and John Velazquez, will square off in the inaugural Jockey Challenge at Pimlico Race Course May 15, the day before the $1 million Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Madison: Informed Decision Edges Ventura
George Strawbridge Jr.'s Informed Decision split horses in deep stretch and ran down 2-5 favorite Ventura to win the $300,000 Vinery Madison (gr. I) by a head in thrilling fashion April 9 at Keeneland.
Munoz to Handle Velazquez at Keeneland
Ruben Munoz, agent for jockey Gabriel Saez, will also handle the book for leading rider John Velazquez at the Keeneland meet that begins April 3.
Quality Road Delivers in Florida Derby
Quality Road turned back a bid from even-money favorite Dunkirk in upper stretch and drew away for a sensational 1 3/4-length victory in the $750,000 Florida Derby (gr. I) March 28 at Gulfstream Park. The son of Elusive Quality set a new 1 1/8-mile course record in 1:47.72.
Game Face Gets Serious in Gulf Rematch
Odds-on choice Game Face won the Gulfstream Park rubber match when she overpowered her rival Any Limit in the homestretch to win the $150,000 Inside Information Stakes (gr. II) by 2 1/2 lengths on March 15.
Velazquez Wins George Woolf Award
John Velazquez, a native of Puerto Rico and a two-time Eclipse award winning jockey, has been selected by a vote of his peers as the 2009 winner of the Santa Anita George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. The Woolf Announcement was made Feb. 19 on HRTV by retired Hall of Fame jockey and past Woolf winner Gary Stevens.
Cowboy Cal Outruns Herd in Strub Triumph
Cowboy Cal is headed to the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) in one month following his hard-fought win in the $250,000 Strub Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 7.
Jockeys Get Money From Gulfstream
Gulfstream Park presented the Jockeys' Guild with a $22,000 check Jan. 31.
Cowboy Cal Spurred to San Pasqual Win
Front-running Cowboy Cal, one of the few horses that Robert and Janice McNair kept after they sold Stonerside Stable to Darley last year, nipped 28-1 shot Informed by a nose to win the $150,000 San Pasqual Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita Jan. 10.
Gemswick Park Captures Old Hat Thriller
Gemswick Park, sandwiched between two undefeated fillies as they lurched toward the wire, got her nose in front at the line to win an exciting renewal of the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 4.
Most Popular Stories
- NBC Will Air Pegasus World Cup
- California Chrome Arrives at Santa Anita
- Texas Bling Retired to Stud
- Songbird Untouchable in Cotillion
- Connect Bounces Back in Pennsylvania Derby
- Pinhooking Rookie Scores Big at Keeneland
- Texas Chrome Prevails in Oklahoma Derby
- Ward: Scope Shows Lady Aurelia Bled
- Connect in Good Shape After PA Derby Win
- BH 100: Shooting Star
