Jockey Caraballo New Guy in Town

Jose Caraballo is a new guy in town, if you can call a 48-year-old jockey with 2,627 career victories a new guy. The enduring journeyman, who has enjoyed a most successful career in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region, has ventured to Gulfstream Park this winter with strong (and lucrative) results.            

Caraballo has ridden four winners from 14 mounts thus far, good for a 29-percent win rate, but his most impressive stat involves the healthy return on investment (ROI) on his successes. If a bettor put $2 to win on all 14 horses ridden by Caraballo, he or she would have cleared $139.60 for the $28 investment.            

The native of Puerto Rico made his presence known early in Gulfstream’s Champions Meet by guiding Take a Hint to a $65.40 upset on Dec. 1. His other winners were Nowhere To Run ($69.80), Two Step Flor ($10.40) and Concert Stage ($22). “Every day it’s getting better. People are responding,” Caraballo said. “When I got here, nobody knew me. Now, people are giving me a chance.”            

Caraballo’s career highlights came aboard Barbaro, the 2006 Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby winner. He was aboard the ill-fated Michael Matz-trained colt for his 8 ½-length debut victory at Delaware Park and his 8-length triumph in the Laurel Futurity in 2005.            

Represented by agent Frank Sanabria, Caraballo is looking forward to the challenge of riding against the best jockeys in the world at Gulfstream.             

“Right now, at Laurel, it’s about the bug boys. There are four or five there, and it’s awful cold,” Caraballo said. “It’s warm here. I said I’d give it a try.”