Three Stakes Wins Earn Wethey Jr. Jockey of the Week

Journeyman jockey Floyd Wethey, Jr. got a head start on his birthday celebration winning three stakes races on the Oklahoma Classics card Friday night at his home track Remington Park. He turned 36 on Saturday. The panel of racing experts voted Wethey Jockey of the Week for Oct. 13-Oct. 19. The weekly honor recognizes jockeys for significant riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild. Founded in 1940, the Guild represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States. An Oklahoma native, Wethey got off to a fast start Friday night aboard Cyndi Loper for trainer Francisco Bravo in the Oklahoma Classics Lassie, one of eight divisional stakes races for Oklahoma-breds. Off at odds of 5-1, Cyndi Loper broke from post position five in the field of 11 two-year-old fillies. Cyndi Loper dueled for the early lead before taking control in mid-stretch for a 4-1/2 length win in 1:11.01 to remain undefeated. Riding for trainer Kevin Scholl, Wethey was aboard Miss Code West, two-time defending Champion Horse of the Meeting, in the Oklahoma Classics Distaff Turf. Under regular rider Wethey, Miss Code West was the overwhelming favorite in the field of seven. Miss Code West set the pace through six furlongs before being engaged by Talkin Cadee. The pair dueled to the wire with Miss Code West prevailing by a neck in 1:43.01 for the mile and one-sixteenth. "I had a lot of horse left," Wethey said to Remington Park publicity. "She let those other horses come up to her and then she knew and I knew (we were going to win). She was just out there doing Miss Code West thing." Wethey concluded the evening in the Oklahoma City Turf Classic Handicap aboard Country Caper for trainer Francisco Bravo. Off at odds of 5-1 in the field of eight, Country Caper raced near the back of the field before rallying three wide on the far turn. In a blanket finish, the five-year-old Country Caper collared race favorite Eakly at the wire to post a half-length win in 1:42.25 for a mile and one-sixteenth. "I just want to say it is a blessing from God to ride for people like Lori and Francisco," said Wethey. "It was a close finish but when the rail opened up for me, we got 'em." Riding since 2007, Wethey regularly rides between Remington Park, Lone Star and Sam Houston. He earned his 1,000th career win on September 17, 2020 at Remington Park aboard Elijah Jet. His father Floyd Wethey, Sr. and uncle Luke Wethey were both jockeys. He was recognized by the Texas Racing Commission in 2023 with their Excellence In Safety Award: "After becoming entangled in a lead rope at the start of a race on April 14, 2023 at Lone Star Park, Wethey, through skillful riding, maneuvered his horse towards the inside rail, untangled the lead rope and discarded it over the inside rail, preventing his horse and others from disastrous injuries posed by the tripping hazard. His meritorious actions directly increased the safety posture of live racing being conducted at Lone Star Park and throughout the state of Texas." Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Juan Hernandez with two stakes wins at Santa Anita, Flavien Prat who posted eight winners for the week, Ricardo Santana, Jr. with three stakes wins including the Sands Point (G2), and John Velazquez who won the Raven Run (G2) at Keeneland.