For those catching up on this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders, America’s Best Racing has put together a list (in alphabetical order) of the jockeys scheduled to ride in the classic May 6 at Churchill Downs.
Junior Alvarado
Age: 36
Originally from: Venezuela
Previous rides in the Derby: 3
Best finish: 4th in 2016 (Mohaymen )
2023 Derby horse: Rocket Can
Junior Alvarado has ranked in the top 10 by North American purse earnings among jockeys three times since 2012 and is closing in on 100 graded stakes wins with 95 through April 27. His biggest career score came late last year when he guided the inspiring Cody’s Wish to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Alvarado began his career in the U.S. in South Florida in 2007 before moving on to Chicago, where he’d become a leading rider. One of several top riders originally from Venezuela, Alvarado has raised his profile in the sport through success on the New York and Florida circuits. It was at Gulfstream Park in Florida where Alvarado and Rocket Can won the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) Feb. 4. They followed that up with a second-place finish in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) before finishing fourth in the Arkansas Derby (G1).
Javier Castellano
Age: 45
Originally from: Venezuela
Previous rides in the Derby: 15
Best finish: 3rd in 2018 (Audible )
2023 Derby horse: Mage
Javier Castellano had a mount in the Kentucky Derby for 12 consecutive years until the streak came to a halt in 2022. This year, he’s back and he’s got a legitimate shot at winning the race when he rides Mage. A runner-up to Forte in the Florida Derby (G1), Mage has been the center of a lot of positive buzz in recent weeks. With more than 5,600 career wins, Castellano is already established as one of the best jockeys in the history of U.S. Thoroughbred racing. In 2017, the Venezuela native was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. That honor came on the heels of four consecutive Eclipse Awards for being the nation’s outstanding jockey from 2013-16. While he’s won just about every major race in America, the Kentucky Derby remains an elusive prize. In 15 career Derby rides, Castellano has only once finished in the top three in the first jewel of the Triple Crown.
Gerardo Corrales
Age: 27
Originally from: Panama
Previous rides in the Derby: 0
Best finish: n/a
His 2023 Derby horse: Raise Cain
Success as a jockey didn’t come instantly for Gerardo Corrales. Born in Panama, Corrales moved the U.S. and became a regular rider in 2015. In his first three years, he won 9, 28, and 51 races respectively. But eventually Corrales began getting more opportunities and from 2019-22 he surpassed 100 wins each year. In 2019, Corrales won his first riding title at Thistledown in Ohio. Last year, he captured his first two graded stakes victories at Kentucky Downs and, most recently, he finished second in the jockey standings at Turfway Park. For all of those reasons, Corrales got the call when the ride opened up on longshot Kentucky Derby contender Raise Cain, a horse he is familiar with as he rode Raise Cain for the colt’s first three starts in 2022. Winner of the Gotham Stakes (G3) in March, Raise Cain comes into the Derby off a fifth-place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) which was won by Tapit Trice.
Manny Franco
Age: 28
Originally from: Puerto Rico
Previous rides in the Derby: 4
Best finish: 2nd in 2020 (Tiz the Law )
2023 Derby horse: Hit Show
Manny Franco is part of a long line of Puerto Rican jockeys to thrive on the New York racing circuit. He has been a a consistent winner since breaking onto the scene in the Big Apple a decade ago. In that time, he has won multiple riding titles, 55 graded stakes races, and he enjoyed his biggest win in New York when he captured the Belmont Stakes (G1) in 2020 aboard Tiz the Law. The same horse also won the Travers Stakes (G1) that year and was also responsible for Franco’s best finish in a Kentucky Derby when they claimed the runner-up spot to Authentic in the 2020 edition. This year, Franco will ride Hit Show in the Derby. Were it not for being upset by a nose in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) by Lord Miles, Hit Show might be coming into the Derby with a bit more fanfare. In his race prior to the Wood, Hit Show and Franco won the Withers Stakes (G3) by a dominant 5 1/2-length margin.
Tyler Gaffalione
Age: 28
Originally from: Florida
Previous rides in the Derby: 5
Best finish: 7th in 2019 (War of Will )
2023 Derby horse: Verifying
One of the youngest jockeys in this year’s Kentucky Derby field, Tyler Gaffalione is experienced beyond his years when it comes to riding in big races. Gaffalione already has a victory in the Preakness Stakes (G1) on his resume (War of Will, 2019) and captured his first two Breeders’ Cup wins in the 2022 World Championships. His career started in 2014 and eight years ago he won the 2015 Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey. Gaffalione ranked in the top six among North American riders by both wins and purse earnings for each of the last three seasons and again ranks in the top 10 for both categories in 2023. On May 6 he’ll have the ride on an interesting contender in the Derby named Verifying. Although the bay colt by Justify is winless in his past two races, he finished a strong second in the Blue Grass Stakes behind Tapit Trice. If he can take another step forward in the Derby, Gaffalione might be able to add yet another trophy to his growing collection.
Florent Geroux
Age: 36
Originally from: France
Previous rides in the Derby: 6
Best finish: Won in 2021 (Mandaloun )
2023 Derby horse: Jace’s Road
It’s not often that a jockey wins his first Kentucky Derby nine months after the race is run, but that’s exactly what happened to Florent Geroux. He crossed the finish line second to Medina Spirit in the 2021 Derby. It wasn’t until months later that Medina Spirit was officially disqualified because of a medication violation and Geroux’s horse, Mandaloun, was declared the winner (a decision still being appealed at the regulatory level). Prior to that, Geroux’s most memorable Kentucky Derby was his first apearance in 2016 when he finished third aboard Gun Runner . This year Geroux will ride Jace’s Road in the Derby. Trained by Brad Cox, Jace’s Road is owned in partnership by West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables. As part of a partnership with America’s Best Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds also partnered with sports media personalities Ian Rapoport, Joy Taylor, and Lindsay Czarniak, expanding the horse’s ownership team and fanbase. While his odds will be long, Jace’s Road will benefit from having a seasoned rider aboard with more than 2,000 career wins. Geroux has also won more than 150 graded stakes races, including seven at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
James Graham
Age: 43
Originally from: Ireland
Previous rides in the Derby: 2
Best finish: 8th in 2018 (Lone Sailor )
2023 Derby horse: Confidence Game
If you like big personality in your athletes, then James Graham is the jockey for you. Graham can usually be found with a huge grin on his face, especially when he’s returning to the winner’s circle after a big victory—and he’s had plenty of those. Graham attended jockey’s school in his native Ireland but launched his career in the U.S., starting out as an exercise rider in 2002 before taking out his jockey’s license in 2003. Graham has since racked up more than 2,900 wins in the two decades that he’s been riding in the U.S. He’s only had two opportunities to ride in the Kentucky Derby and his best result was finishing eighth in 2018 aboard Lone Sailor. This year, Graham will be riding Confidence Game. The Candy Ride colt has only raced twice this year but one of those races was an impressive victory in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park. He won as a longshot that day and if he can score a victory on Derby day, he’ll again very likely trigger some massive payouts to bettors.
Brian Hernandez Jr.
Age: 37
Originally from: Louisiana
Previous rides in the Derby: 3
Best finish: 8th in 2017 (McCraken )
2023 Derby horse: Sun Thunder
Louisiana native Brian Hernandez Jr. has left several marks on racing throughout his two-decades long career. He won the 2004 Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey and, in the years since, has tallied more than 2,400 victories. His biggest score to date came on his 27th birthday when he won the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) aboard Fort Larned . Hernandez hasn’t had many opportunities in the Kentucky Derby, but he’ll get another chance this year when he rides Sun Thunder for trainer Ken McPeek. Hernandez and McPeek have teamed up for 32 stakes wins over the years and capturing a Derby together would be fitting. However, Sun Thunder will be one of the longest shots in this year’s field coming off a fourth-place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes.
Juan Hernandez
Age: 31
Originally from: Mexico
Previous rides in the Derby: 0
Best finish: N/A
2023 Derby horse: Skinner
It was just a matter of time before Juan Hernandez got his shot to ride in the Kentucky Derby. Now in his 14th year as a jockey, Hernandez is hitting his best stride as he prepares for his first Derby mount. Of his 65 career graded stakes wins, more than 80% have come since the start of 2021. In that time, he’s also become one of California’s most popular jockeys. The native of Veracruz, Mexico, has captured multiple riding titles at Santa Anita Park, including the recently completed winter-spring meet where his 63 wins were more than double the total for the jockey in second, Flavien Prat. All of that surely made him an attractive option to ride Skinner when he drew into the field for the race and his connections decided to replace regular rider (and three-time Derby winner) Victor Espinoza. Skinner comes into the race having finished third in back-to-back Derby prep races in California—the San Felipe Stakes (G2) and the Santa Anita Derby (G1).
Christophe Lemaire
Age: 43
Originally from: France
Previous rides in the Derby: 1
Best finish: 13th in 2022 (Crown Pride )
2023 Derby horse: Derma Sotogake
Christophe Lemaire has traveled the world as one of the top international riders but one race he’s never captured is the Kentucky Derby. Lemaire began his career in Europe but has built out his resume in recent years via domination in Japan, where he’s been a force since 2015 and led the Japan Racing Association standings by wins for five straight years from 2017-21. It’s no surprise then that he’s booked to ride a Japanese horse in this year’s Derby named Derma Sotogake. Owned by Hiroyuki Asanuma and trained by Hidetaka Otonashi, Derma Sotogake entered the Kentucky Derby picture after winning the UAE Derby (G2) in March. Lemaire’s only other ride in the Kentucky Derby came last year when he rode another Japanese-based runner, Crown Pride, who also won the UAE Derby before finishing 13th in last year’s run for the roses.
Paco Lopez
Age: 37
Originally from: Mexico
Previous rides in the Derby: 2
Best finish: 8th in 2020 (Ny Traffic )
2023 Derby horse: Lord Miles
Paco Lopez started his career with a bang when he won the Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey in 2008. In the years since, he’s found the winner’s circle more than 3,500 times and has consistently been near the top of the jockey standings at Monmouth Park and Gulfstream Park. His career highlight to date was winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) in 2018 aboard Roy H . That same year Lopez rode in his first Derby and finished 11th on Firenze Fire . His only other Derby mount was an eighth-place finish aboard Ny Traffic in 2020. Lopez will have to overcome the odds in this year’s race as he’s scheduled to ride longshot Lord Miles. The Curlin colt earned his spot in the Derby starting gate with an upset score in the Wood Memorial Stakes at odds of 59-to-1.
Jareth Loveberry
Age: 35
Originally from: Michigan
Previous rides in the Derby: 0
Best finish: N/A
2023 Derby horse: Two Phil’s
This year will mark Jareth Loveberry’s first time riding in the Kentucky Derby but he’s certainly no novice. The Michigan-native has competed in more than 12,800 races in a 19-year-career that has seen him amass more than 1,750 victories. He paid his dues by riding at a variety of tracks in the Midwest, including a five-year stint at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort, before settling in at Oaklawn Park and Canterbury Park during the mid-2010s and later leading the jockey standings at Arlington International Racecourse. A couple of Loveberry’s most significant victories in his career have come in the past six months aboard Two Phil’s. Last October, the Hard Spun colt won the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill and, more recently, he came out on top in the $694,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway. The latter victory secured the points needed for Two Phil’s to make the Kentucky Derby and, in the process, propelled Loveberry into the spotlight.
Irad Ortiz Jr.
Age: 30
Originally from: Puerto Rico
Previous rides in the Derby: 6
Best finish: 4th in 2019 (Improbable )
2023 Derby horse: Forte
Irad Ortiz Jr. is statistically the best all-around jockey in America. He is a four-time Eclipse Award winner, having captured the award as North America’s leading rider last year. He also won it three years in a row from 2018-20. Ortiz is well on his way to another Eclipse Award as the current leader nationally by purse earnings (more than $10 million already) and wins for 2023. His three wins at the 2022 Breeders’ Cup gave Ortiz a total of 17 victories for his career at the World Championships—that’s just 10 fewer than all-time leader Mike Smith, who is 57-years-old. Ortiz is just 30 years old. Despite his success on the big stage, Ortiz has yet to hit the board in his six prior Kentucky Derby rides. He’ll have his best chance to date in the Derby when he rides favorite Forte. A winner of six of his seven career races, Forte comes into the Derby off consecutive victories at Gulfstream Park, highlighted by a score in the Florida Derby.
Jose Ortiz
Age: 29
Originally from: Puerto Rico
Previous rides in the Derby: 7
Best finish: Second in 2018 (Good Magic )
2023 Derby horse: Kingsbarns
The younger of the Ortiz Brothers, Jose has a slight edge over Irad in Kentucky Derby starts and overall accomplishment in the race. In his seven previous starts in the Derby, Jose Ortiz has four times finished among the top five finishers. In 2019, he finished third in the race aboard Tacitus ; a year earlier he finished second with Good Magic. Last year, he was fourth aboard Simplification . Among Ortiz’ career highlights are wins in the 2017 Belmont Stakes (Tapwrit ), 2022 Preakness Stakes (Early Voting ), and five victories at the Breeders’ Cup. A Kentucky Derby win would cement his credentials as one of the best riders of this era. He’ll have a legitimate shot after landing on Kingsbarns. The premium mount on the unbeaten Louisiana Derby (G2) winner opened up for Ortiz when Kingsbarns’ regular jockey, Flavien Prat, opted instead to ride top contender Angel of Empire.
Flavien Prat
Age: 30
Originally from: France
Previous rides in the Derby: 5
Best finish: Won in 2019 (Country House )
2023 Derby horse: Angel of Empire
You’d be hard-pressed to find a jockey in this year’s Kentucky Derby field who has made more of his opportunities than Flavien Prat. A native of France, Prat has always looked comfortable in the saddle at Churchill … and just about everywhere else he rides. Remarkably, Prat has been in the Derby five times and he’s finished in the top three in four editions of the race. In 2019, Prat was the beneficiary of a disqualification that moved his horse, Country House, into the winner’s circle at odds of 65-1. Prat will be riding at much shorter odds this year because he’s the jockey aboard top contender Angel of Empire. The Classic Empire colt recently won the Arkansas Derby, a major Kentucky Derby prep race which in previous years has been won by notable horses like Smarty Jones , Afleet Alex , Curlin, and 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah .
Joel Rosario
Age: 38
Originally from: Dominican Republic
Previous rides in the Derby: 11
Best finish: Won in 2013 (Orb )
His 2023 Derby horse: Disarm
Just like several of his counterparts in this race, Joel Rosario is a jockey who appears to be well on his way to a Hall of Fame career. He won the Kentucky Derby aboard Orb in 2013. He was 28 years old at the time and that same year he finished second in the country in overall earnings. He has been in the top five in that category almost every year since. Rosario was the nation’s leading money-earner in 2021 when he won an Eclipse Award. His 3,400-plus career wins also include two victories in the Belmont Stakes and 15 successes in the Breeders’ Cup. Remarkably, seven of Rosario’s 11 career Derby horses have finished in fifth-place or better and he finished second last year when he lost by just a head aboard Epicenter . This year, he booked a late Derby mount on bit of an outsider named Disarm. Rosario rode Disarm when he finished second in the Louisiana Derby in March. The horse followed that up by finishing third in the Lexington Stakes (G3), which secured him the points to lock up a spot in the Kentucky Derby.
Luis Saez
Age: 30
Originally from: Panama
Previous rides in the Derby: 9
Best finish: 3rd in 2021 (Essential Quality )
2023 Derby horse: Tapit Trice
Following in the tradition of legendary Panamian riders such asLaffit Pincay Jr., jockey Luis Saez finds himself on the fast track to the Racing Hall of Fame. At just 30 years old, Saez has already won more than 3,200 races. This year, he ranks in the top three nationally in both wins and purse earnings. While his Kentucky Derby record doesn’t show any victories, Saez has crossed the finish line first in America’s most famous race. He was the rider aboard Maximum Security in 2019 when he was disqualified from first and placed 17th for interference. In 2021, Saez had his best official finish in the Derby when he finished third aboard Essential Quality. In this year’s Kentucky Derby, Saez lands on Tapit Trice. A winner of four consecutive races including the Blue Grass Stakes, Tapit Trice looks to have a legitimate shot in the Derby … and he also has the added benefit of a top-tier jockey.
Ryusei Sakai
Age: 25
Originally from: Japan
Previous rides in the Derby: 0
Best finish: N/A
2023 Derby horse: Continuar
A native of Japan, Ryusei Sakai is already a household name on the international racing scene. He traveled to South Australia and rode in the prestigious Caulfield Cup at age 18 as an apprentice jockey. Late last year, Sakai scored his first grade 1 win in Japan’s Shuka Sho Stakes on a horse named Stunning Rose. Sakai has enjoyed success in recent months aboard Bathrat Leon , a multiple group stakes winner in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Sakai’s Derby mount, Coninuar, finished third most recently in the UAE Derby, won by fellow Japanese runner Derma Sotogake, however, he accumulated enough points for the Kentucky Derby via Japan’s qualifying path to the first jewel of the Triple Crown.
Ramon Vazquez
Age: 38
Originally from: Puerto Rico
Previous rides in the Derby: 1
Best finish: 13th in 2015 (Mr. Z )
2023 Derby horse: Practical Move
Wherever he’s ridden—and he’s racked up the miles over the years—Ramon Vazquez has found success. The journey for Vazquez has included multiple stops at smaller circuit tracks where he’s been the leading rider, including Lone Star Park, Remington Park, and Prairie Meadows. He’s also made an impact at Oaklawn Park and, more recently, at Santa Anita Park. In fact, he won both key California Kentucky Derby preps this year at Santa Anita—the San Felipe Stakes and Santa Anita Derby—aboard Practical Move, the colt he’ll be riding May 6. While he’ll be making just his second start in the Kentucky Derby, Vazquez isn’t short on talent. He’s just been waiting for an opportunity and he could very well reach the pinnacle of the sport with a breakthrough win in the Derby.
Hovdey: Vazquez a Student of the Game
John Velazquez
Age: 51
Originally from: Puerto Rico
Previous rides in the Derby: 24
Best finish: Won in 2011 (Animal Kingdom ), 2017 (Always Dreaming ), and 2020 (Authentic )
2023 Derby horse: Reincarnate
No jockey in the field boasts a better Derby resume than John Velazquez, one of the greatest jockeys of the past three decades. He is a three-time Kentucky Derby winner, tied for fourth most of all time with seven other jockeys. Velazquez captured his most recent Derby win aboard Authentic in 2020. It was a second Derby triumph in the span of four years for the Hall of Famer—he won the 2017 running aboard Always Dreaming. As he closes in on 6,500 career wins, the native of Puerto Rico comes in a little under the radar this year as he’s booked to ride an outsider named Reincarnate. If the Good Magic colt can return to the form that saw him win the Sham Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita in January, he might be a live longshot. In his two most recent starts, he finished third in both the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.
