Jockey Victor Espinoza: Profile, career highlights

Victor Espinoza

Born: May 23, 1972, Mexico City

* Won his third Kentucky Derby on American Pharoah on May 2. His previous Kentucky Derby wins were with War Emblem (2002) and California Chrome (2014). Both War Emblem and California Chrome won the Preakness Stakes, but were beaten in the Belmont Stakes.

* Has been the regular rider of California Chrome since December 2013 and was aboard for all nine of that colt’s starts in 2014 en route to the Horse of the Year title. Rode California Chrome to a second in the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 28.

* Won the 2014 Windsor Castle Stakes on Hootenanny at Royal Ascot in England, where he was seen visiting with Queen Elizabeth in the walking ring.

* Has won 16 races worth $1 million or more in career, including three on American Pharoah this year – the $1 million Arkansas Derby, $2.17 million Kentucky Derby, and $1.5 million Preakness Stakes – and the $2 million Golden Shaheen Sprint on Secret Circle in Dubai in March.

* Won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita last November with Take Charge Brandi.

* Holds 11 riding titles at Southern California tracks.

* Won seven races from 10 mounts at Del Mar on Sept. 4, 2006, a record for a single day at that track.

* Had a career-best year in 2006, winning 259 races with mounts that earned $16,138,004.

* Attended jockey school in Mexico City after high school graduation and initially rode in Mexico City.

* Moved to the United States in 1993 and rode in Northern California before taking up full-time residence in Southern California in 1996.