Jimenez Wins Indiana Grand Jockey Title
Description:
It was a strong Indiana Grand Racing & Casino meet for Jockey Albin Jimenez from start to finish. Jimenez took the lead in the race for leading jockey in mid-May and never looked back, becoming only one of three jockeys at the track to ever surpass 100 wins in one race season.
A native of Panama, Jimenez completed the 2015 race meet with 108 victories and purse earnings in excess of $2.7 million. He won several stakes throughout the season, including five aboard Lady Fog Horn, who granted Jimenez his final win of the meet in the $150,000 Frances Slocum Stakes on closing night Oct. 31.
"First of all, I have to give credit to God," Jimenez said. "He has been very good to me. I also want to thank all the trainers and owners for giving me the opportunity to ride and a special thanks to Jimmy (McNerney) for all of his hard work for me as my agent."
Jimenez's ride to his first title at Indiana Grand was not smooth. He missed five total weeks of action during the 120-day race because of injury, but the break only motivated Jimenez to get back in the saddle and win races. Even though he was absent from racing during that time, he was still able to maintain his spot atop the standings for his return to riding.
"When I was coming back from the injury, I felt so good and wanted to take the title," Jimenez said. "It made me really work hard to keep toward that goal. This title feels great and I'm excited to win."
Jimenez will add the title from Indiana Grand to his list of credentials, which also includes jockey titles at Turfway Park. Jimenez, who has been riding in the United States since 2012, is a graduate of the Laffit Pincay Jockey Training Academy at Presidente Remon Racetrack near Panama City. He has been among Indiana's top 10 jockeys since 2013, and with his tally of 108 wins from 2015, he moves into eighth on the list of all-time leading jockeys at Indiana Grand with 233 career wins.
Jimenez was joined in the winner's circle by his wife of four years, Marybeth, and their eight-month old daughter, Josaleen. Kevin Greely, director of racing, and Jon Schuster, vice president and general manager of racing, made the presentation to Jimenez, who went on to win two races on the closing-night card.
The Jimenez family now calls Alexandria, Ky. home. Jimenez plans to ride in Kentucky over the winter and return to Indiana Grand when racing resumes in April 2016.