Vazquez riding lots of winners

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jockey Ramon Vazquez has jumped out to a fast start at Oaklawn Park, where a recent five-win day has helped lift the Puerto Rico native to the top of the riding charts.

Vazquez, 31, is looking to build on the standout season he closed out at Remington Park on Dec. 14. The rider collected his second straight title at the Oklahoma City track with 90 wins from 435 mounts and accounted for his richest stateside victory in the $250,000 Springboard Mile.

The momentum has carried over to Oaklawn, where Vazquez has been a constant presence aboard horses for the meet’s leading owner, Danny Caldwell, and its leading trainer, Federico Villafranco. He also bagged five wins for five different trainers Jan. 25, including the featured allowance with the Kellyn Gorder-trained Joy Boy.

“I’m very happy with the way the meet has started off,” Vazquez said through his agent, Ruben Munoz.

Vazquez’s five-win day was his second stateside after accomplishing the feat at Remington Park, but it was not a personal record. Vazquez won six on a card in Puerto Rico. He graduated from a riding school there in 2002 and went on to win 284 races that year to rank as both the leading rider and leading apprentice in Puerto Rico, said Munoz.

“He’s won over 1,900 races,” Munoz said of Vazquez’s career. “Everybody follows him in Puerto Rico.”

Vazquez’s top mounts in Puerto Rico included Soy Conquistador, a nine-time Group 1 winner, with Vazquez teaming with him for three of those victories, including a major stakes held for top horses throughout Latin America.

Munoz said Vazquez settled in stateside in 2011. The rider hails from a racing family, as both his father and uncle were jockeys. Vazquez said through Munoz that he is enjoying his time at Oaklawn as well as the enthusiasm for racing from the fans in Hot Springs.

“They’re really into it,” Vazquez said.

Vazquez’s win in the Springboard Mile came aboard Bayerd. He was aboard the horse last month, finishing second with him in the $150,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn on Jan. 19.

“The horse ran really well,” Vazquez said through Munoz. “The other one got through on the rail and just got to him late. He’s a horse that always gives his all.”

Vazquez was aboard Bayerd for trainer Steve Asmussen, who long has utilized Vazquez.

Other stakes wins Vazquez has collected include the 2013 Pippin at Oaklawn aboard Don’t Tell Sophia, the 2013 DeBartolo Memorial at Remington aboard Daddy Nose Best, the 2014 Northern Spur at Oaklawn aboard Bourbonize, the 2014 Saylorville at Prairie Meadows aboard Dancin’ Lil, and the 2014 Oklahoma Classics Distaff aboard Diamond Disco.

Vazquez had won 15 races from 79 starts at this Oaklawn meet heading into the card Friday. His mounts had earned $428,257.