Jockey of the Week Joel Rosario Leads Weekly Earnings

Joel Rosario led all North American jockeys by total earnings and won one of a limited number of graded stakes races offered last week to be named Jockeys’ Guild Jockey of the Week for July 10 – July 16, 2017. The award is voted on by a panel of experts for riding accomplishments by members of the Jockeys’ Guild, the organization which represents more than 950 riders in North America. Jockey of the Week is sponsored by Animal Element's Foundation Detox and Product X Performance Enhancer.

The feature event of the weekend was the Delaware Handicap (G1), but the Delaware card also offered one of only five additional graded stakes across the country: the $200,000 Kent Stakes (G3). Rosario’s mount in the race was the heavily favored Frostmourne ($3.00), recent winner of the Penn Mile (G2). Rosario rated Frostmourne carefully before passing the pacesetter at the top of the stretch and pulled away to win by six lengths. Frostmourne is a Speightstown colt trained by Christophe Clement for owner and breeder Green Lantern Stables.

Rosario led all North American jockeys by total earnings for the week, adding $498,719 to his 2017 total. To date this year, he has earned $9,254,994 and is ranked seventh by earnings among North American jockeys. His career earnings exceed $156 million.

With 10 victories, Rosario tied with three jockeys for the second-highest number of wins last week, behind Richard Eramia who led with 11 victories. In addition to 10 wins, Rosario also posted three places and one third, finishing in the money in 67% of his 21 starts and resulting in an impressive 48% win rate. He has won 93 of his 492 starts in 2017 and is 2,369 for 12,939 lifetime.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Rosario made headlines when he won six races in a single card at Hollywood Park in 2009, equaling a record first set by Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker in 1953.

Rosario’s multiple career graded stakes wins include the Dubai World Cup with Animal Kingdom and the Kentucky Derby with Orb in 2013, and the Belmont Stakes in 2014 with Tonalist.