Jose Lezcano opts to spend winter in New York

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though he will be riding at Gulfstream Park this Saturday, Jose Lezcano will be based at Aqueduct for the bulk of the winter, according to agent Jason Beides.

“More opportunities for us here,” he said. “Florida, there’s a logjam of riders. We could be just another jockey there or stay here and shine. We’ll take our best shot here.”

Beides said that Lezcano will have to go to Gulfstream during the winter to ride some stakes.

Lezcano had 10 wins from 82 mounts during Aqueduct’s fall season.

New York regulars Manny Franco, Junior Alvarado, Rajiv Maragh, and Eric Cancel will ride here as well this winter. Joey Martinez, who recently returned from a broken jaw that sidelined him six weeks, will spend his first full winter in New York.

David Cohen is going to stay in New York until Oaklawn opens in late January.