Venezuelan star Jaramillo in thick of jockey race

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It’s no surprise to see Javier Castellano’s name atop the jockey standings or even Luis Saez firmly entrenched in second place. What probably would have been considered a longshot when the meet began, however, was to have the little-known Emisael Jaramillo in a battle for third with the likes of Paco Lopez, Joel Rosario, Corey Lanerie, and John Velazquez.

Jaramillo is the all-time leading rider in his native Venezuela, with more than 3,500 wins. The 39-year-old decided to come to the U.S. last fall looking for new worlds to conquer and began his local career two weeks into the Gulfstream Park West meet. Despite being a newcomer to the deep and talented Gulfstream Park riding colony this winter, Jaramillo continues to impress fans and horsemen alike while steadily ascending in the standings. His victory aboard Shaft of Light in Wednesday’s second race was his 36th of the session, putting him just one behind Lopez for third place.

“He’s got a lot of things going for him,” said former rider Roger Velez, who has served as Jaramillo’s agent since shortly after the jockey’s arrival in south Florida. “He’s light, he’s got good hands, he’s good out of the gate, can follow instructions, and he does his homework. He’s always studying the Form, trying to pick up the different tendencies of the horses he rides. He’s also very, very gifted.”

Jaramillo, who began his career in 1998, has won Latin America’s premier event for 3-year-olds, the Clasico Internacional del Caribe, four times, and he has ridden three Venezuelan Triple Crown winners: Polo Grounds (2005), Taconeo (2007), and Water Jet (2010).

Jaramillo said he’s considering staying in south Florida year-round while also keeping open the option of going to Monmouth Park during the summer.

“I broke all the records in Venezuela and wanted to see if I could go higher,” Jaramillo said through an interpreter. “God has given me a lot of ability, and I just wanted the opportunity to show what I could do here in the U.S. It’s an honor for me to be riding with these great riders here at Gulfstream and to be doing as good as I’m doing right now.”

Jaramillo will have an even bigger world to conquer in the months ahead. As the regular rider for top local sprinter X Y Jet, he’s headed to Dubai for the Golden Shaheen on the Dubai World Cup card on March 26. X Y Jet received an invitation to the race this week.

Jaramillo said he’s also been offered the mount on Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Mongolian Saturday in the Al Quoz Sprint on the same card.

◗ Vicente Gudiel, the leading apprentice rider here this winter, will lose his five-pound allowance Friday and join the ranks of the journeymen, according to clerk of scales Victor Sanchez.