Apprentice jockey Jeriel Catala climbed the ladder the old-fashioned way at Parx Racing. Working hard as an exercise rider, the 21-year-old Puerto Rican earned the trust of several local horsemen while struggling to make weight to become an apprentice. He had the reputation before he had the mounts. “This work is very hard, so it’s important to respect the guys around you,” Catala said. The young rider finally got his license in 2025 and began racing in October, when he won his debut aboard the Jordan Bullock-trained mare Classy Miss in a $5,000 claiming race. More opportunities followed, as Juan Carlos Guerrero was one of several trainers waiting for him. “I told him to take his time,” Guerrero said. “You’ve got plenty of time. Don’t worry. So this year came around and he said, ‘You know what? I really want to try it again. I think I’m going to make it this year.’ I said, ‘Great. As soon as you make the weight, I’ll put you on a horse.’” On Dec. 31, Catala and Guerrero ended their 2025 campaigns in style when Boutwell Time closed fast to win the $75,000 Mrs. Claus at Parx by a neck. It took months for Catala and Guerrero to reinvigorate the 3-year-old filly, and she returned the favor by giving Catala his first stakes victory. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. “I want to thank Carlos Guerrero for giving me the opportunity to ride and trust me,” Catala said after the win. “We closed the year with a great victory, and with God’s favor, we will continue working so that this new year comes with many more blessings.“ The day before his win on Boutwell Time, Catala made the first stakes start of his career, urging Guerrero-trained first-time starter Presenceisapresent to a runner-up finish in the $75,000 Miss Behaviour. Guerrero did not have any concerns about putting the apprentice on his stakes horses, even though Catala rode those races without his seven-pound weight allowance. Before Boutwell Time’s stakes debut, Catala guided her to back-to-back allowance victories by a combined 19 3/4 lengths. In 139 starts coming into Monday’s races, most of which have come at Parx, Catala has won 14 races. He has earned nearly $400,000 in purse money, a total that was bolstered by his stakes success at the end of the year. Most jockeys dream of winning the Kentucky Derby or racking up Eclipse Awards, and though Catala shares these lofty goals, he also has more immediate objectives. The young man eventually wants to earn consistent mounts in the winter at Aqueduct. On Jan. 2, he made his second trip to New York, finishing seventh aboard Calisa in a $30,000 conditioned claiming race. “My dream is riding at Aqueduct,” Catala said. “I’ve really liked it there. The paddock, the track, and the other jockeys are all very, very good.” Catala’s respectful and polite reputation is popular among trainers, but the apprentice also stressed his fondness for spending time with other jockeys. Describing them as mentors, he said that spending time with other riders has made him better. He mentioned Jaime Torres as an especially positive influence. “Listening to the other jockeys for that advice is good for me,” Catala said. “I’m an apprentice, so the more advice I get from other jockeys, the better it will be for me and my experience.” :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports Catala seems to have a strong grasp of the steps necessary for apprentices to earn mounts. The jockey has braved the cold in Pennsylvania, and in order to progress, he plans to continue working in the winters at Aqueduct. He is cooperative with trainers and attentive with jockeys. Over time, his days at Parx have become more eventful as his mounts have begun to pile up. Many of his best horses are ones he has maintained between starts and worked closely with in the morning. Through hustle and a grinding competence, Catala has made his way from Puerto Rico to a 10 percent strike rate in his first year as a professional jockey. There may have been flashier stories in the racing world last year, but there were few truer to the racing industry. Catala has worked his way into respectable standing at his home track, and based on his success so far, his ambitions from here seem clear and reasonable. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.