2022 Eclipse Awards: Jose Antonio Gomez

Jose Antonio Gomez has made a name for himself on the tough New York circuit in his first full year of riding, and for his successful rookie season he is an Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding apprentice jockey of 2022.

Gomez led all North American-based apprentice jockeys in mount earnings last year, with $7,635,366. Overall, he won 152 races from 1,312 starts. Gomez won two stakes, taking a New York Stallion Stakes series race with Golden Rocket in August at Saratoga and the John J. Reilly Handicap with Royal Urn in May at Monmouth Park.

Trainer Kelly Breen put Gomez on both his first stakes winner in Royal Urn and his first career winner, Top Gun Tommy. Gomez and Top Gun Tommy won a $50,000 starter allowance on Oct. 28, 2021, at Belmont Park. A little more than a month later, the young rider, who had spent time galloping for Breen, set up shop in New York.

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

“Sometimes when you’re starting out you might feel down because you’re not as good as you want to be, but you keep working,” Gomez told Daily Racing Form shortly after arriving in New York. “That’s what I’m trying to do, keep working and, hopefully, we’ll keep on winning some races.”

By year’s end, the 22-year-old native of Michigan had established himself as one of the top young riders in North America.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.