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Home , Ashado, Bob Baffert, English Channel (horse), Jerry Bailey, Julien Leparoux, Pat Day

John R. Velazquez

Born: Nov. 24, 1971 in Carolina, Puerto Rico

Family: Wife, Leona. Daughter Lerina, son Michael Patrick. Leona is the daughter of trainer Leo O’Brien and the sister of trainer Keith O’Brien

Breeders’ Cup Record: 187-16-17-22 | $27,760,275

• Ranks second all-time in wins and earnings by a in Breeders’ Cup history behind Mike Smith. He moved into second by wins after winning the 2018 & Turf (G1) with Sistercharlie (IRE). He added two third-place finishes to his record in 2019 with Sistercharlie in the Filly & Mare Turf and Bast in the Juvenile (G1).

• He won two races in 2017 aboard Forever in the Distaff (G1) and in the Mile (G1).

• His other Breeders’ Cup winners are: (Distaff, 2004), (Juvenile Fillies, 2000), Da Hoss (Mile 1998), Eldaafer (Marathon, 2010), (Turf, 2007), Main Sequence (Turf, 2014), Perfect Shirl (Filly & Mare Turf, 2011), (Sprint, 2004), Starine (FR) (Filly & Mare Turf, 2002), Stephanie's Kitten (Juvenile Fillies Turf, 2011), (Juvenile Fillies, 2002), (Juvenile, 2010), (Mile, 2012).

• To date, 2020 has been highlighted by his third Derby (G1) victory aboard . Velazquez, who was riding the Bob Baffert trainee for the first time, masterfully guided the to a front-running victory, holding off heavy favorite by 1 ¼ lengths. The pair subsequently finished second after a stretch-long battle with the filly in the Oct. 3 (G1).

• Velazquez secured his 2,000th at in Race 4 Oct. 9 riding first- time starter Malathaat to a 1 ¾-length victory for trainer his longtime friend and client and owner Shadwell Stable.

• Set the record for most graded stakes wins by a jockey when he guided Bast to victory in the Chandlier Stakes (G1) Sept. 27, 2019 at Santa Anita to collect the 661st of his career, surpassing fellow Hall of Famer .

• Won the 6,000th race of his career Nov. 30, 2018 aboard Singapore Trader for Pletcher.

• Has four other Triple Crown race trophies. Earned his second victory in 2017 with … Win was even more meaningful because the colt was trained by Pletcher. … In 2007, won his first Triple Crown race on , the first filly to win the Belmont (G1) since in 1905. He was not the winner’s regular rider, picking up the mount when Garrett Gomez elected to ride before the decision was made to run Rags to Riches.

• In 2011, won his first Kentucky Derby, riding ; he picked up the mount the day before the race when early Derby favorite Uncle Mo was scratched because of illness. Uncle Mo was Velazquez’s third Derby mount to scratch close to the race; he was the regular rider for and Eskendereya, who were both scratched a week before the Kentucky Derby, in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

• Won his third Triple Crown race on in the Belmont in 2012. He replaced , who had ridden Union Rags in the Kentucky Derby.

• Inducted into the Hall of Fame in August 2012, offering an emotional acceptance speech that highlighted his commitment to his family and his gratitude toward those who supported him and helped launch his career, particularly Ralph Theroux Sr., whom he credits with preventing him from abandoning his jockey career during its rough early years.

• In 2015, the five-time leading rider reached the career milestone of 800 wins at the Spa Aug. 22.

• Marked three important milestones in 2013. On June 14, he rode his 5,000th winner, aboard Galloping Giraffe at Belmont Park, on July 27, he broke Jerry Bailey’s record to become the winningest rider in the history of Saratoga Race Course (he broke the record with his 694th winner, Unitarian). On Oct. 13, Velazquez broke ’s record for lifetime earnings when he finished second in the ninth race at Belmont Park aboard Bit Bustin, reaching $297,922,320 in career purses. Day’s record was $297,914,839.

• On Sept. 29, 2012 at Belmont Park, won three consecutive Grade 1 races: the Vosburgh Invitational on The Lumber Guy; the Flower Bowl Invitational on Nahrain; and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational on Point of Entry.

• In 2009, was awarded the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, an honor granted by his peers. The Woolf Award goes to a rider whose careers and personal character earn esteem for the individual and the sport of .

• Earned the as Outstanding jockey in 2004-05.

• On Sept. 3, 2001, Velazquez set a Saratoga record when he won six races. The sixth was the Diana Handicap (G1) with Starine (FR).

• Launched his career in March 1990 under the guidance of retired Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr., who was his longtime agent before Velazquez made the move to Ron Anderson in February 2020.

• Began his riding career when he entered jockey school in Puerto Rico in June 1988 and was riding in his native country a year and a half later. His first winner was Rodas at El Comandante in 1990.

• First U.S. win was on My Brother Jay, March 12, 1990 at Aqueduct.

• In 2006, was elected chairman of the board of directors of the Jockeys’ Guild and still serves in the position.

• Board member of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.