2024 Eclipse Awards: Gabriel Maldonado

Gabriel Maldonado is an Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding apprentice jockey of 2024 for a season in which he ranked second in wins among all his peers in North America.

Maldonado won 120 races from 579 starters last year. His mounts earned $2,625,880, which ranked fourth among all apprentice jockeys in North America.

Maldonado is a 26-year-old native of Puerto Rico whose first career win as a rider came June 17, 2023, at Gulfstream Park. Prior to race riding, he was a blacksmith and also worked as an exercise rider for Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, according to a profile of Maldonado that Mike Henry wrote for Tampa Bay Downs.

Maldonado was the leading apprentice in 2024 at Tampa Bay Downs, where he finished third in the overall jockey standings. He brought home his fair share of longshots during the season and in the closing days of the meet was second in a maiden race with 57-1 shot Open Sky.

“I believe in myself, so I just rode her like she had a chance to win,” Maldonado told Tampa Bay Downs publicity.

:: Full list of 2024 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

Maldonado’s meet at Tampa Bay also was bolstered by the success he had teaming with the season’s leading owner and trainer, Juan Arriagada. The rider celebrated a riding triple on May 3.

Maldonado carried his success over to Delaware Park, where on Aug. 14 he won the first stakes race of his career aboard Caprice in the $50,000 Blue Hen. He also was aboard for her 13 3/4-length debut win in July.

Maldonado ended up fifth in Delaware Park’s overall standings, with 47 wins from 178 starts. His 26 percent win rate ranked second among the top 10 riders at Delaware Park.

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