Jockeys' Guild

10/16/2026

Hazlewood Has Elbow Surgery, Will Be Out a “Few Months”

Yedsit Hazlewood, the runner-up in last year's apprentice rider Eclipse Award race, will be out for a few months after elbow surgery.

10/16/2026

Suggested Donations for Chance(s) To Win John Deere Z330 ZTrakTM Mower Giveaway Benefits PDJF$35 for 1 Chance$60 for 2 Chances$75 for 3 ChancesWinner Does NOT Have to be Present To Win

10/15/2026

Erik Asmussen, Robertino Diodoro Earn Lip Chip Honors at Re*****on Park

Read the full press release from Re*****on Park:

10/14/2026

Five-time Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz, Jr. captured his third graded stakes of Keeneland’s Fall Meet with a win in the Franklin Stakes (G2) on Sunday. He leaves no doubt that he is back in elite riding form after being sidelined for 55 days after a pre-race incident at Saratoga on August 8 left him with seven small fractures in his left foot.

The panel of racing experts voted Ortiz Jockey of the Week for October 5-October 11.

Ortiz began Keeneland’s first full week of racing with a win on Wednesday in Race 4 for two-time Eclipse Award trainer, Brad Cox.

Ortiz won four races on Thursday including Race 1 for trainer Eddie Kenneally, Race 5 for Kenny McPeek, Race 7 for Wesley Ward and Race 9 for duo Hall of Famer Mark Casse.

Ortiz then added a win on Friday in Race 3 for Brad Cox and a win on Saturday in Race 4 for Joe Sharp.

On Sunday, Ortiz had the mount aboard the 5-year-old mare Time to Dazzle for the first time for trainer Mark Casse in the Franklin Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares three-years-old and up on the turf. Off as the favorite at odds of 2-1 on a turf course labeled as “yielding,” Time to Dazzle raced sixth of seven as longshot Itzel raced alone on the lead.

Turning for home, Itzel (under Edgar Morales) began to give way to Kehoe Beach as Time to Dazzle, under a perfectly timed ride by Ortiz, unleashed her explosive closing kick. Time to Dazzle caught Kehoe Beach (with brother Jose in the irons) at the wire for the win in 1:04.52 for 5-1/2 furlongs.

“The turf was a little soft, so I wanted to give her a chance to get comfortable and save one run for the end, hoping the leaders would back up,” Ortiz said to Keeneland publicity. “She broke really well, I just waited for my moment and tried to get her relaxed.”

“Around the turn I had to wait a bit longer, but we finally got there,” said Ortiz. “She did a great job.”

Three-time Keeneland leading rider Ortiz posted a total of eight wins for the week and is currently tied with eight-time Keeneland leading rider, Tyler Gaffalione for the Fall meet title.

Ortiz will be riding at Keeneland Wednesday through Sunday this week.

Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Junior Alvarado who won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland, Jose Lezcano who won the Hill Prince (G3) at Belmont, Paco Lopez who won 11 races for the week to lead all riders and Jose Ortiz who won the Sycamore (G2) at Keeneland.

Statistics provided by: Equibase Company
Photo: Keeneland

10/12/2026

Cody Jensen headed to Utah Sports Hall of Fame

Speedhorse modernizes the Speedhorse.com website, managing and displaying extensive horse racing data.

10/08/2026

10/08/2026

How A Pair Of Beers Landed Jockey Adrian Escobedo His First Breeders’ Cup Mount

Jockey got the mount on G2 Oak Leaf winner Domain Expansion after buying co-owner Matt Dohman a round of beers at this summer’s Jockey Karaoke competition

10/07/2026

Hall of Famer Johnny Velazquez made the most of his trip for Fall Stars Weekend at Keeneland that included 11 stakes races carded over three days. Five of the stakes races were Grade I. The ageless Velazquez won two as well as a Grade 3 stakes race.

The panel of racing experts unanimously voted Velazquez Jockey of the Week September 28-October 4.

Velazquez travelled to Keeneland after beginning the race week at Belmont Park.

On Saturday, dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse gave Velazquez a leg up aboard Classic Q in the First Lady (G1). Velazquez who has been aboard Classic Q five times knows how to ride the talented 4-year-old filly.

Breaking from post position eight in the field of 10, Classic Q raced off the pace in third through the early running. In mid-stretch as 2-1 favorite Lush Lips took command, Classic Q made her move with a sustained run to get up by a nose for the win in 1:35.89 in a thrilling renewal of the one mile turf race.

“The whole thing with her is I try to relax the first part of the race,” Velazquez said to Keeneland publicity. “You take too much and she throws her head up. Today, I was on the outside, and little by little she settled. I took my time, and when I said to go, she responded.”

Riding for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Velazquez was aboard American History in the next race, the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1). Off at odds of 5-1, American History broke slow and raced in fourth down the backstretch. Turning for home, American History edged closer to race favorite Coach Pope and QB Rocket posting a come-from-behind victory by a length in 1:44.88 for the mile and one-sixteenth test. It was the third win of the day for Velazquez.

“I was not expecting my horse to break as slow as he did,” Velazquez said. ‘I was hoping the two horses in front were going fast enough my horse could catch up. My horse has one stride—kind of keeps coming, coming and coming—and that’s the way he did it.”

On Sunday, Velazquez had the call on 2-year-old Irish-bred Adonius for British-based trainer Rebecca Menzies in the Indian Summer Stakes (G3). Off as third choice at odds of 7-2, Adonius raced near the back of the nine-horse field after a slow start but began to gain ground on the leaders through the stretch. With a late rush, Adonius won a heart-stopping four-horse photo in 1:03.46 for 5-1/2 furlongs on the turf. It was the second 3-win day in a row for Velazquez.

This week, Velazquez will be riding at Keeneland Wednesday through Sunday.

Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Manny Franco who won three stakes races including the Ch*****ne (G1), Tyler Gaffalione who won two stakes including the Darley Alcibiades G1), Jose Ortiz with three graded stakes including the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1), Irad Ortiz, Jr. with two graded stakes wins including the Coolmore Turf Classic (G1) and Flavien Prat with three graded stakes wins including the Juddmonte Spinster (G1).

Statistics provided by: Equibase/Photo: Keeneland

10/06/2026

Report: Flavien Prat To Ride Magnitude In Breeders’ Cup Classic

Jockey will work the Steve Asmussen trainee on Sunday at Keeneland

10/05/2026

Domain Expansion Gives Jockey Adrian Escobedo First Graded Win In Oak Leaf

Trained by Leonard Powell, Speaker's Corner filly earns a fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies after her 17-1 upset at Santa Anita