2024 Eclipse Awards: J.G. Torrealba

J.G. Torrealba is an Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding apprentice jockey of 2024 after building his résumé by winning races from Maryland to Ohio to Southern California.

The 23-year-old native of Venezuela had particular success in the stakes program at Laurel Park. His victories aboard horses like Copper Tax and Malibu Beauty helped him compile $3,766,272 in mount earnings to rank second in that category among all apprentice jockeys in North America.

Torrealba was fourth in wins among his peers, taking 104 races from 555 starts during his apprentice period in 2024. He picked up his first North American win on April 25, 2023, at Thistledown.

Torrealba rode the first races of his career in 2019 in Venezuela. Torrealba later spent some time riding in Southern California.

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

“I didn’t have family or anything related to the track in Venezuela. I never thought I would be a jockey,” Torrealba said through a translator. “But I like the races a lot. That’s when I learned to be a jockey.”

Torrealba came to the United States at the behest of trainer Jose Corrales. His initials stand for Jose Gregorio.

Copper Tax gave Torrealba his first stakes win when he captured the $100,000 Private Terms by a neck on March 23 at Laurel. Gary Capuano trains Copper Tax and has kept the rider aboard the horse ever since, including for an April win in the Federico Tesio at Laurel and a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown.

“He’s been riding really good,” Capuano told Daily Racing Form following the Private Terms. “He’s been working with me in the mornings and has ridden a couple for me. Bug riders, they’re hungry. They ride hard, and he did that.”

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