Jockeys' Guild

09/02/2026

Manny Franco has had a summer to remember at Saratoga and it’s not quite over yet. On Saturday, Franco won the track’s signature race, the Travers Stakes (G1) as well as the West Point Stakes on Friday and to cap the weekend, he won the Yaddo Stakes on Sunday for a total of 12 races for the week vaulting Franco into second place in the standings.

The panel of racing experts voted Franco Jockey of the Week for August 24-August 30.

Franco’s spectacular week began on Wednesday at Saratoga with a win in Race 5 for trainer Jorge Abreu. He then posted the first of his multiple win days for the week on Thursday with Race 4 for Metkan Kantarmaci, Race 5 for Miguel Clement and Race 9 for Horacio De Paz.

Franco began Friday at Saratoga posting a win in Race 6 for two-time Eclipse Award trainer Brad Cox. Five-time Eclipse Award trainer Chad Brown then gave a leg up to Franco aboard Spirit of St. Louis in the West Point Stakes at a mile and one-sixteenth on the turf.

Breaking from the rail at odds of 4-1 in the field of eight New York-bred 3-year-olds and up, the 7-year-old Spirit of St. Louis raced on the rail into the far turn. Regular rider Franco wheeled Spirit of St. Louis four wide and took command inside the final sixteenth for a half-length win in 1:40.03.

On Saturday, Franco posted a win in Race 5 for Miguel Clement before Brad Cox gave a leg up to Franco in the Travers Stakes (G1) aboard the lightly raced Leading Change.

Sent off at odds of 10-1 and breaking from post position two, Leading Change raced in third behind Preakness hero Napoleon Solo and Sea Strike. Napoleon Solo put away Sea Strike by the eighth pole while Leading Change made his move and collared the front runner in the final yards to post a half-length mild upset win in 2:02.98 for the classic distance of a mile and one-quarter.

“All I can say is, ‘wow,’ an emotional Franco said after the race. “I just want to say thanks to Brad Cox, the owners, my agent John Panagot. And the horse, he deserved this.”

On Sunday, Franco won four more races including the Yaddo Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and mares. Riding for trainer Kenny McPeek, Franco was aboard 5-year-old mare Midnight Concerto. In a three-way blanket finish, Midnight Concerto got her nose on the wire first in 1:41.06 for one mile and one-sixteenth on the turf.

Franco currently sits second in the standings with 62 wins, three behind Jose Ortiz. Ortiz is expected to ride only one more day at Saratoga as he will be at Kentucky Downs. Flavien Prat, currently in third, has 60 wins and will ride at Saratoga Wednesday-Saturday before travelling to Kentucky Downs.

Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Javier Castellano who posted his 6,000th North American win, Jose Ortiz who won the H. Allen Jerkens (G1), Flavien Prat with five stakes wins including the Personal Ensign (G1) and the Ballerina (G1), and Ricardo Santana, Jr. with two graded stakes wins including the Forego (G1).

Statistics provided by: Equibase/ Photo: Angelo Lieto/NYRA

09/01/2026

Herrera, Joseph Jr. Enjoy Royal Palm Meeting Titles

Jockey Diego Herrera and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. claimed titles in their respective categories at the Royal Palm Meeting.

09/01/2026

Congratulations to Erik Asmussen who picked up four wins on Saturday at Re*****on Park!

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08/31/2026

Jockey David Cabrera Outduels Erik Asmussen in Battle for First Place in Re*****on Park Standings, Five Wins to Four

For Immediate Release Saturday, August 29, 2026 Jockey David Cabrera won the last three races on the card Saturday night at Re*****on Park after Erik Asmussen laid down the gauntlet with four wins; Cabrera’s final three gave him the nightlong battle with a total of five notches on his belt. The tw...

08/28/2026

Javier Castellano Can Extend Travers Record Aboard The Puma

Jockey, who won his 6,000th race on Wednesday, won his seventh Travers on Arcangelo in 2023

08/27/2026

Antonio Fresu, Samuel Marin Will Join New York Jockey Colony

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08/27/2026

08/27/2026

Jockey Javier Castellano wins 6,000th race in North America

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano notched his 6,000th career victory in North America on Wednesday at Saratoga Race Course, guiding the Michelle Nevin-trained Starship Lizzy to a half-length victory in the Race 8 finale, a seven-furlong maiden claimer for New York-bred fillies and mares.

08/26/2026

Umberto Rispoli has left no doubt that he is back to riding in top form after an accident in January at Gulfstream Park that kept him sidelined for more than five months. Known as an exceptional turf rider, Rispoli posted wins in two grass stakes races, the Green Flash Handicap (G2T) and the Del Mar Mile (G2T) on Pacific Classic Day at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

The panel of racing experts voted Rispoli Jockey of the Week for August 17-August 23.

Rispoli, 37, was at Gulfstream Park on January 24 for Pegasus World Cup Day when his mount, Unconquerable Keen stumbled in the stretch of the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint. Rispoli was unseated and suffered a fractured ankle, tibia and fibula requiring multiple surgeries before the road to return to riding could even begin.

Showing great determination, Rispoli was back in the irons with limited mounts in late June after months of rehab. He won with his first ride back for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert on June 27 at Los Alamitos.

Rispoli then had his sights set on returning to ride full time at the Del Mar meet which began July 17. Rispoli won the San Diego Handicap (G2) on July 25 with 2025 Preakness hero Journalism.

On Saturday, trainer Phil D’Amato gave a leg up to Rispoli aboard Sorrento Sky in the Green Flash Handicap (G2T). Off at odds of 7-1 and breaking from the outside in the field of eight, Sorrento Sky trailed until the far turn when Rispoli gave the 5-year-old gelding his cue taking control at the sixteenth pole to win by a length in :56.12 for five furlongs.

“It was a little bit of a sacrifice with the draw because I knew he could break really well and I had to take him all the way back to try to save some ground,” Rispoli said to Del Mar publicity. “Fortunately, it paid off. Today he really came down with a nice turn of foot and ran them all down.”

Riding again for D’Amato, Rispoli was in the irons aboard King of Gosford (GB) in the Del Mar Mile (G2T). Sent off at odds of 5-1 as the fourth choice in the field of 11, King of Gosford settled just off the pace. On the far turn, King of Gosford took aim at the leader El Potente and got up to win by a head in 1:34.22. It was Rispoli’s third win of the day after winning the sixth race for trainer Jena Antonucci.

“I had a very good trip; that was the type of trip I wanted to have before the race,” said Rispoli who was riding the English-bred for his second consecutive victory. ‘I was very happy with my trip and what a nice beautiful day.”

“I am very happy to have won three races (on Saturday),” Rispoli continued. “I have been working hard to get back after having some time off from my injury.”

Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Junior Alvarado who won the Pacific Classic (G1) and the Del Mar Oaks (G1), Manny Franco who won the Alabama (G1), Kyle Frey who won the Del Mar Derby (G2) and Luis Saez who recorded his 4,000th North American win.

Statistics provided by: Equibase
Photo: Benoit Photo

08/25/2026

Jockey Francisco Arrieta and Brendan Walsh captured the leading rider and trainer titles, while Steve Asmussen was the leading owner