Jockey Diego gets 1,000th career Thoroughbred win

Jockey Iram Diego reached a milestone of 1,000 Thoroughbred wins in North America on Friday night, when he guided Mr. Lexis to a 1 3/4-length win in the ninth and final race on the card at Lone Star Park. He was aboard for Michael Annechino and trainer Jose Rodriguez Torres.

Mr. Lexis ($18), who rallied to capture a $10,000 claiming turf route, was one of two winners on the program for Diego. He also accounted for the opener with Blingin' Rose ($7). The rider has had 9,203 starts with Thoroughbreds, and those horses have earned $15.8 million, according Daily Racing Form records. His first win came in 2002 at Fairmount Park.

Diego, 36, is a native of Guerrero, Mexico. He followed in the footsteps of a brother, Loren Diego, and a cousin, Inosencio Diego, in becoming a jockey. Iram Diego is the leading rider at Lone Star Park and has won the past two titles at Sam Houston.