With the exception of those savvy bettors who have profited from his 2200-plus winners over the years, Edwin Gonzalez had ridden somewhat under the radar before guiding Forged Steel to a decisive upset victory in the Goodwood Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park while displaying his usual cool and professionalism.
Taking full advantage of a rare opportunity to take part in Grade 1 competition, the Gulfstream Park-based journeyman provided the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained 12-1 longshot with a picture-perfect ride en route to a 1 1/4-length score in the 1 1/8-mile stakes for 3-year-olds and up, a 'Win and You're In' Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race for the upcoming Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
"God blessed me with a Grade 1," said Gonzalez after winning his first Grade 1 event in North America. "To win a Grade 1 is a good feeling. I'm really happy for that."
Gonzalez, who won both handicaps at Gulfstream Saturday and has won aboard 14 of 31 mounts at the current South Florida meet, is scheduled to have two more Grade 1 opportunities at Keeneland Oct. 31 courtesy of Joseph. His victory aboard C2 Racing Stable LLC, Mathis Stables LLC and TCC Stables LLC's Forged Steel came two weeks after he guided Epic Horses LLC, BAG Racing Stables LLC and the White House Stables LLC's Kerry's Kiss to a 1 1/2-length front-running score at Gulfstream in the Princess Rooney (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares, a WAYI race for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).
"Saffie has always given me opportunities. I have two horses for the Breeders' Cup this year. I'm blessed," said Gonzalez, who will seek his fourth stakes victory in a row aboard Kerry's Kiss in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. "I thank Saffie and all the owners for their support."
Forged Steel had a recent history of success shipping to Santa Anita, where he captured the May 25 Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) by 9 1/2 lengths under Flavien Prat. The 4-year-old son of Vekoma and Prat teamed for a disappointing fifth-place finish in the July 4 Suburban (G2) at Saratoga, before Gonzalez was given the opportunity to ride the Joseph trainee in the Aug. 22 Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar. Although Forged Steel would finish seventh after stalking the pace into the stretch, Joseph stuck with him for the Goodwood.
Following a good break in the Goodwood, Forged Steel closely attended the pace set by Taif around the first turn and along the backstretch, before Gonzalez sent him to the lead heading into the far turn that he would never relinquish.
"I got my position from the first jump. I wanted to keep my position on the first turn," Gonzalez said. "When I got the jump on the horse, I knew my horse would be tough to beat."
The 35-year-old native of Carolina, Puerto Rico, who has won aboard 14 of his 31 mounts during the current Sunshine Meet at Gulfstream, has certainly worked long and hard for his recent success on the national Thoroughbred scene.
The first three mounts of Gonzalez's riding career came in South Florida at Calder Race Course in the fall of 2009 before he returned to his homeland to make a name for himself.
"I came here to get my license and then I went back home. I didn't speak English, had a wife there," said Gonzalez, who has raised three children with his wife, Karina.
Gonzalez won his first career race on his second mount upon his return to Camarero, where he would go on to ride more than 400 winners, including 2011 Clasico Dia del Veterano (G1PR) winner Guadalquivir before venturing to the U.S.
He rode his first stateside winner, 15-1 longshot Art Series, at Penn National Aug. 15, 2013 and went on to become the Pennsylvania racetrack's most dominant jockey for the next several years, maintaining a win rate of more than 30 percent in 2019 and 2020. He switched his tack to Gulfstream in March 2021 and visited the winner's circle shortly after his arrival aboard Kent Sweezey-trained Phat Man. He has become a regular visitor ever since while averaging well over 100 winners annually.
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