A strong group of jockeys, including veterans
of the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit and an impressive group
of newcomers, will ply their trade at Aqueduct Racetrack this winter.
Ramon Dominguez, the leading jockey for 11 of the 12 most recent NYRA
meets, will attempt to win his fourth consecutive inner track title. Through
Thursday, Dominguez led all jockeys in North America
with 344 wins in 2010, including a repeat score with Gio Ponti in the Grade 1
Man o’War and front-running victories aboard Haynesfield the Grade 2
Suburban Handicap and Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational.
Other top jockeys from the previous winter who will once again compete
over the inner track include David Cohen, C.C. Lopez, Channing Hill, and Jorge
Chavez, respectively second, fourth, sixth, and seventh in the rider standings
last year.
Joining the group of New York-based jockeys who will remain at Aqueduct
for the duration of the inner-track meet is Cornelio Velasquez, who has ridden
in Florida
during previous winters. Hall of Famer Edgar Prado is considering remaining in
the Empire State this season and will make a final
decision on his winter plans early next week.
New additions to the Aqueduct riding colony include Junior Alvarado,
winner of the 2009 riding title at Arlington Park and tied for eighth in the
Aqueduct standings during the recently-concluded fall main track meet; Eurico
Rosa da Silva, who topped all riders at Woodbine this year and will start
competing at the Big A this Wednesday; and seven-pound apprentice Brian
Pedroza, who has been riding primarily in the mid-Atlantic Region.