Jockey Jose Montano Gets 1,000th Win
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Photo: Coady Photography
Jose Montano
Jockey Jose Montano notched his 1,000th career victory Dec. 16 when he piloted Aritzia to victory in the eighth race at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races .
Silverton Hill's 3-year-old filly was much the best in the $10,000 seven-furlong claiming event, as Montano sent her three wide in the turn before drawing away in the stretch to win by nine lengths for trainer Jeff Runco.
Montano, who won the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice jockey in 2012, reached this milestone after 4,387 starts. He began his career in 2011 riding at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort. This year he's ridden 175 winners from 727 mounts. He mostly rides in West Virginia and has total career earnings of $15,619,691.
The native of Mexico currently ranks 101st by wins and earnings for 2016 and boasts a 24% win percentage as well. He has ranked in the top 100 by wins for the past four years, reaching as high as 10th last year.
Some of Montano's notable wins have been the 2014 $500,000 West Virginia Breeders' Classic Stakes aboard Russell Road, the 2015 Sadie Hawkins Stakes and the 2014 Sylvia Bishop Memorial Stakes at Charles Town with Chrome Mine, and the 2012 West Virginia Vincent Moscarelli Memorial Breeders' Classic Stakes with In the Fairway.