2022 Eclipse Awards: Jeiron Barbosa

Maryland’s rich tradition of cultivating top apprentice riders lived on last year through Jeiron Barbosa.

The 19-year-old native of Puerto Rico won three meet titles in Maryland and also ranked second in wins and earnings among all apprentice riders in North America in 2022.

The accomplishments have made Barbosa an Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding apprentice jockey of 2022. He hopes to add his name to a long list of Eclipse Award-winning apprentices from the Maryland circuit, including Hall of Famers Chris McCarron and Kent Desormeaux, and 2018 winner Wes Hamilton.

Barbosa won a total of 184 races from 1,033 starts in 2022. His mounts earned $5,685,182. Barbosa’s list of winners included a pair of stakes victories, with Music Amore in the $100,000 Searching on Aug. 6 at Laurel Park and Titoschangedmyluck in the $103,000 Kenswick on Aug. 9 at Colonial Downs.

:: Full list of 2022 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

Barbosa’s titles came during the spring and fall meets at Laurel Park and the fall season at Pimlico Race Course. The fall title at Laurel was shared with journeyman Angel Cruz, a close family friend from who has been a mentor to Barbosa.

“It feels great to share the title with my brother,” Cruz said. “I brought him here. I was his mentor coming from Puerto Rico. Not knowing English, coming here to conquer like he did is a great accomplishment.”

Barbosa, whose first wins came in Puerto Rico, recorded his initial stateside win on March 25 at Laurel.

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