STICKNEY, Ill. - Out of nowhere over the winter came apprentice jockey Vicente Gudiel, who has emerged from obscurity to lead the Hawthorne jockey standings entering this week’s racing. Gudiel officially has 41 wins at the meet, but that total includes two days of racing in January before Hawthorne went dark during midwinter. The spring meet commenced Feb. 20, and since then Gudiel has gone 37-20-21 from 162 mounts, a 23 percent strike rate and a win total 10 greater than Tim Thornton, second in the standings. This is the third straight Hawthorne spring meet where an apprentice rider has unexpectedly risen in the standings. In 2013 it was Manny Esquivel, and last winter Santo Sanjur had a strong run. Sanjur, like Gudiel, is represented by the agent Jimmy Ernesto. Ernesto was hooked up with both riders by trainer Wesley Ward, for whom Gudiel was working as an exercise rider before coming to Chicago on Dec. 26. Using the standard term for an apprentice jockey, bug boy, does not quite suit Gudiel, who is 28, and age is not the only thing that sets him apart. Gudiel is from Guatemala, not exactly a hotbed of Thoroughbred riders. His family, though, moved to Florida when Gudiel was a child, and Gudiel went to the track to gallop for trainer Patricia Farro at Parx Racing before winding up with Ward in Florida. Gudiel notched a five-win day early this meet and has stayed hot. He has ridden nine winners for trainer Scott Becker while expanding his business steadily. “I couldn’t believe it,” Gudiel said. “I’m winning and I’m saying I don’t know how I did it, but I did it. My agent is a hard worker. Scott Becker, he opened his door and gave me a chance to ride good horses.” Gudiel figured out quickly the rail was the place to be during February and March. “I was watching every race, and I’m thinking the best spot is the rail, saving ground,” he said. “I started staying on the rail, and I kept winning.” Gudiel plans to move his tack from Hawthorne to Arlington when the meet there starts next month.