Hall of Famer Javier Castellano traveled from his New York base to Parx Race Course to ride on Saturday taking home the trophy in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) aboard The Puma. It was the 3-year-old colt's first Grade 1 victory.
The panel of racing experts voted Castellano Jockey of the Week September 14-20.
Castellano has been the rider of The Puma in five of his seven starts including a victory in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) defeating fellow Pennsylvania Derby entrant Further Ado. After a second place finish by a nose in the Florida Derby (G1) to Commandment, The Puma was pointed to the Kentucky Derby (G1) only to be scratched with a skin infection on the day of the race.
The colt then posted a fourth in the Haskell (G1) and a fourth in the Travers (G1).
Immediately after the Travers, Castellano suggested to trainer Gustavo Delgado that he should add blinkers to the colt's equipment for his next start. Gustavo took that advice and The Puma was equipped with blinkers for his next start, the Pennsylvania Derby (G1).
Off as the second choice at 5-2 in the field of 10, The Puma raced in eighth as favorite Further Ado raced in fourth. Castellano steered The Puma six-wide at the top of the stretch and into the lead.
While The Puma had a three-length lead in mid-stretch, Further Ado was mounting a late run from fourth but fell short by a half length in a thrilling finish as The Puma prevailed in 1:49.10 for a mile and one-eighth.
"With blinkers, focused," said Castellano. "I moved, when I asked he gave it to me right away. At some point I said, 'Oh my God, you moved too early Javier.' But he felt good, he was happy and it was a great performance."
Castellano, who won his 6,000th career race on August 26th at Saratoga, will be riding at Belmont Park all week with mounts in the Vosburgh (G3) aboard Buttah, winner of the John Morrissey at Saratoga with Castellano aboard, and Opulent Restraint (IRE) in the Flower Bowl (G2) for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott on Saturday.
Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Micah Husbands who won the Cotillion (G1) at Parx, Paco Lopez with stakes wins at Presque Isle Downs and Parx, Jose Ortiz who won the Gallant Bob (G2) at Parx and Edgard Zayas who won the Presque Isle Downs Masters (G2).
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