Berrios, Vazquez Share Jockey of the Week Honors

Hector I. Berrios took a plane ride across the country for just one mount on Saturday and it proved to be well worth the trip posting a win in the Gr. I Pennsylvania Derby at Parx. At Remington Park, journeyman jockey Ramon A. Vazquez ended the racing week on a high note with five winners on Saturday for a total of 10 for the week, leading all jockeys.

Berrios and Vazquez tied in the voting by the panel of racing experts for Jockey of the Week honors September 15-September 21.

The weekly accolade recognizes jockeys for significant riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the U.S.

On Saturday, California trainer John Shirreffs gave a leg up to Berrios on Baeza in the Gr. I Pennsylvania Derby. Berrios has ridden Baeza in five of the colt's eight starts.

Off as the favorite at 7-5 in the field of 10, Baeza broke from post position eight and raced near the back of the field but not too far behind. Baeza began to move up on the backside as Berrios gave Baeza his cue at the three-eighths pole. Baeza responded and gradually drew away from the field to post an impressive 2-1/4 length win in 1:48.03 for a mile and one-eighth.

"For my career, I'm very happy," Berrios said to Daily Racing Form. "Now he might run in the Breeders' Cup Classic. I don't know. I'm very happy. I thank the Lord, and the confidence from the owner, and bringing my family here, it's perfect. The perfect day."

Berrios, 38, will be back at his southern California base when Santa Anita opens on Friday, September 26.

Ramon Vazquez returned to ride at Remington Park when the meet began in August for the first time since 2021 and is a former five-time leading rider at the track.

Vazquez started the race week off with three wins on Thursday, races three, six and nine all for Remington Park leading trainer Robertino Diodoro. On Friday, he posted two wins in race one and nine for Diodoro.

Saturday's five-win day included race one for trainer Ronnie Cravens III, races two, seven and nine for Diodoro and race four for trainer Abel Ramirez-Rodriguez.

Vazquez, 41, sits in first place in the Remington Park jockey standings with 34 wins, eight ahead of two-time defending leading rider, Stewart Elliott. Vazquez has a mount in every stakes race on Sunday's Oklahoma Derby card including the Remington Park Oaks with So There She Was for trainer Doug O'Neill and Take Charge Tom in the Gr. III Oklahoma Derby for Robertino Diodoro.

Other contenders for Jockey of the Week included Kazushi Kimura who recorded his 1,000th North American win, Irad Ortiz, Jr. who won the Gr. I Cotillion and Joel Rosario with three stakes wins including two graded.