Northeastern Rider Juarez Joins Oaklawn Park Colony

Represented by agent Gary Stevens, jockey Nik Juarez will ride the upcoming Oaklawn Park meet that begins Dec. 9. He will begin exercising horses Nov. 20 in advance of the meet.

Stevens said Nov. 16 that he will also continue to book mounts for Geovanni Franco, who returned to Oaklawn last season and finished sixth in the standings.

Juarez, who has been based on the East Coast and the Mid-Atlantic, entered Thursday with 909 career victories, according to Equibase, the first coming in 2013. He won 118 or more races each year from 2015-19 before experiencing a decline in victories. He is 20-for-224 this year.

"I knew nothing about him personally, other than watching him ride. I've been a fan of his," said Stevens, a retired Hall of Fame jockey .

Franco made his Oaklawn debut in 2016 and rode 45 winners the following year to finish third in the standings. Franco then relocated to Southern California before returning to Oaklawn last December. He rode 29 winners at the 2021-22 Oaklawn meeting.

"I've got Geovanni and him (Juarez), and it's a perfect match," Stevens said. "They're both excited. I'm excited."

Franco is now riding at Churchill Downs and Horseshoe Indianapolis.

In a close race for the 2021-22 riding title at Oaklawn, David Cabrera (62 wins) edged Francisco Arrieta by one victory and Ricardo Santana Jr. by three wins.

Cabrera will again be represented by Jose Santos, who also books mounts for apprentice Rene Diaz.