Keeneland Success Earns Velazquez Jockey of the Week

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez was unanimously voted Jockey of the Week for Sept. 29-Oct. 5 after winning eight races, including four stakes.

During the week, Velazquez, 53, won a total of eight races including four stakes races, three of them graded and "Win and You're In" races into the Breeders' Cup.

The panel of racing experts unanimously voted Velazquez Jockey of the Week for Sept. 29-Oct. 5. The trainers and owners of those winners would undoubtedly agree with the result of that vote.

The weekly honor 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.

Velazquez started the week on Thursday at Belmont at the Big A posting a win in Race 2 for trainer Mark Hennig then it was off to Keeneland for the much anticipated Fall Stars opening weekend.

On Friday, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher gave a leg up to Velazquez aboard Tommy Jo in the Gr. I Darley Alcibiades for two-year-old fillies. Off as the overwhelming favorite at 2-5, Tommy Jo raced in second behind the leader, Percy's Bar with Luan Machado. At the top of the stretch, the race was on as the top two raced in tandem when Percy's Bar suddenly lugged out into Tommy Jo's path. While Percy's Bar crossed the wire first, the stewards disqualified her and placed her second, elevating Tommy Jo to first in a final time of 1:44.69.

Velazquez won Race 3 and Race 4 on Saturday for Wesley Ward and Todd Pletcher, respectively. Velazquez was then aboard Praying for trainer Robbie Medina in the Gr. 2 Thoroughbred Club of America for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. Off at odds of 9-1, the 3-year-old Praying raced in fifth making a three-wide bid on the far turn and just kept coming down the stretch to catch race favorite Vahva in the final strides for the upset win in 1:10.49 for six furlongs.

Velazquez took the call on Ted Noffey for trainer Todd Pletcher in the Gr. I Claiborne Breeders' Futurity. Off as the 4-5 favorite, Ted Noffey broke from post position six and raced in second until taking control on the far turn cruising to a 2-3/4 lengths win in 1:43.98 for the mile and one-sixteenth.

Velazquez capped his five-win day on Saturday taking Race 11 for trainer Wesley Ward.

On Sunday, Velazquez was aboard race favorite Schwarzenegger for trainer Wesley Ward in the Indian Summer for 2-year-old turf sprinters. Schwarenegger set a stakes record of 1:02.28 for 5-1/2 furlongs.

This week Velazquez rides at Keeneland Wednesday thru Friday then at Belmont at the Big A on Saturday. He returns to Keeneland for Sunday's card.

Velazquez was one of six nominees for Jockey of the Week including Frankie Dettori with two graded stakes wins at Keeneland, Manny Franco with two graded stakes wins at Belmont at the Big A, Irad Ortiz, Jr. with three graded stakes wins at Keeneland, including the Coolmore Turf Mile (GI), Joel Rosario with three graded stakes wins at Belmont at the Big A including the Champagne (GI) and Frizette (GI) and Luis Saez who won the Juddmonte Spinster (GI) at Keeneland.