Rivera Jr.'s Iselin Win Lands Jockey of the Week Honors

Luis R. Rivera, Jr. made the most of his opportunity in the Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park on Saturday. Riding the 6-year-old Bishops Bay for the first time, Rivera earned the first graded stakes victory in his career. The panel of racing experts voted Rivera Jockey of the Week for August 10-August 16. Rivera began the week riding at his home track of Monmouth Park on Friday posting a win for trainer Panagiotis Synnefias. He then travelled to Penn National for their nighttime card. Back at Monmouth Park for Saturday's races, Rivera won the third race for trainer Tony Wilson. With Bishops Bay's regular jockey Flavien Prat riding at Saratoga, two-time Eclipse Award trainer Brad Cox enlisted Rivera to ride the multiple stakes winner Bishops Bay in the Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds and up. Breaking from post position three in the compact field of four, Bishops Bay tracked pace setter Chunk of Gold through the opening fractions. Midway on the second turn, Bishops Bay poked his head in front for a half-length lead but Chunk of Gold was not done and the two raced in tandem down the stretch with Bishops Bay putting his head in front at the wire for the win in 1:41.92 for a mile and one-sixteenth. Rivera made it a three-win day in the sixth race for trainer Devon Dougherty. Rivera posted three wins again on Sunday with the fourth race for trainer Miguel Clement, the sixth race for Panagiotis Synnefias and the seventh race again for Miguel Clement. Luis R. Rivera, Jr., 22, is a native of Loiza, Puerto Rico and the son of Thistledown based veteran rider Luis Rivera, Sr. He started riding in Puerto Rico in 2023 after attending the famed Escuela Vocacional Hipica jockey school. He ventured stateside in 2023 riding on the east coast and at mid-Atlantic tracks including Aqueduct, Belmont at the Big A, Laurel, Parx and Saratoga. Rivera has made Monmouth Park his summer home for the first time in three years and posted his first career four-win day on May 16 at the Jersey Shore. He is currently in second place in the Monmouth Park standings behind perennial leader Paco Lopez. Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Manny Franco who won two stakes races including the Christophe Clement (G1), Kevin Orozco with two stakes wins at Emerald Downs including the Longacres Mile, Jose Ortiz with two stakes wins including the Mahony (G3) and Johnny Velazquez with two stakes wins at Woodbine including the prestigious Kings Plate.