Ortiz, Prat, Rosario lead top-earning jockeys in 2022

Irad Ortiz Jr., three-time Eclipse Award winner as racing’s top jockey, made a strong case in 2022 for a fourth such title.

The 30-year-old from Puerto Rico topped the sport’s money list for the fourth time in his career. He did so in a year that saw his mounts win the Belmont Stakes, three Breeders’ Cup races and 16 other Grade 1 events.

Here is a look at the top 10 North American jockeys of 2022 in terms of earnings. Money collected on the Dubai World Cup and Saudi Cup cards is factored into these statistics.

1. Irad Ortiz Jr., $37.7 million

Notable 2022 wins: Belmont Stakes (G1), Belmont Park, Mo Donegal; Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), Keeneland, Elite Power; Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Keeneland, Forte; Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), Keeneland, Goodnight Olive; Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), Gulfstream Park, Life Is Good

Ortiz earned a second Belmont Stakes score, finishing three lengths clear of brother Jose Ortiz and Nest to secure a Todd Pletcher-trained, Mike Repole-owned one-two finish. Speaking of Nest, he booted her home to three Grade 1 wins as she made a slam-dunk case for 3-year-old filly divisional championship honors. Ortiz has now won 17 Breeders’ Cup races, all since 2014. He also led the Saratoga jockey colony in wins (55) and earnings ($7.21 million) for the 2022 edition of the New York track’s prestigious meet.

2. Flavien Prat, $36.83 million

Notable 2022 wins: Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Keeneland, Flightline; Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), Del Mar, Flightline; Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Belmont Park, Flightline; Blue Grass Stakes (G1), Keeneland, Zandon; United Nations Stakes (G1), Monmouth Park, Adhamo

Prat had the privilege of piloting soon-to-be Horse of the Year Flightline in his three 2022 starts, all Grade 1 victories. In the Breeders’ Cup Classic, he let Irad Ortiz and Life Is Good make the early lead before pulling up to that one’s outside coming through the far turn. Prat then shook the reins at the top of the stretch, and Flightline took off for an 8 1/4-length win that capped a brief but brilliant 6-for-6 career. The French-born jockey also continued a lucrative partnership with trainer Chad Brown, winning Grade 1 races aboard five different Brown trainees.

3. Joel Rosario, $31.3 million

Notable 2022 wins: Travers Stakes (G1), Saratoga, Epicenter; Churchill Downs Stakes (G1), Churchill Downs, Jackie’s Warrior; Clark Stakes (G1), Churchill Downs, Proxy; La Troienne Stakes (G1), Churchill Downs, Pauline’s Pearl; First Lady Stakes (G1), Keeneland, In Italian

Rosario nearly won his second Kentucky Derby, taking the lead with Epicenter only for little-known Rich Strike to fly up on the rail and win by 3/4 of a length. Then in the Preakness, Rosario and Epicenter were squeezed back in the early stages and could not catch up to winner Early Voting. After those two Triple Crown near-misses, Rosario and Epicenter earned a shot of redemption with a 5 1/4-length Travers Stakes score, the jockey’s first in the Mid-Summer Derby. Rosario, who was voted champion jockey of 2021, racked up 10 Grade 1 triumphs in 2022.

4. Tyler Gaffalione, $27.36 million

Notable 2022 wins: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), Keeneland, Wonder Wheel; Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1), Keeneland, Caravel; Florida Derby (G1), Gulfstream Park, White Abarrio; Arlington Million Stakes (G1), Churchill Downs, Santin; Turf Classic Stakes (G1), Churchill Downs, Santin

Six furlongs into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Gaffalione and Wonder Wheel were 11th of 13 and boxed into the rail. The filly finally found running room on that inside path, moving forward and passing rivals before Gaffalione tipped her out into the stretch. Once clear, Wonder Wheel drove on to a three-length win that was Gaffalione’s first in a Breeders’ Cup event. The native Floridian won riding titles in Keeneland’s fall stand and in two of Churchill Downs’ three multi-day meets.

5. Luis Saez, $24.68 million

Notable 2022 wins: Kentucky Oaks (G1), Churchill Downs, Secret Oath; Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes (G1), Keeneland; Shirl’s Speight; Fourstardave Handicap (G1), Saratoga, Casa Creed; Jaipur Stakes (G1), Belmont Park, Casa Creed; Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2), Charles Town, Art Collector

Following a third-place finish against male runners in Oaklawn Park’s Arkansas Derby (G1), Secret Oath trainer D. Wayne Lukas made a jockey change from Luis Contreras to Saez. Secret Oath came five-wide for her run into the Churchill stretch, drawing clear under left-handed urging. Saez’s first Kentucky Oaks win was the fifth, but first since 1990, for the Hall of Fame conditioner Lukas. The 272 wins that Saez collected in 2022 ranked him third in that category behind Irad Ortiz (325) and Vicente Del-Cid (277).

6. Jose Ortiz, $22.93 million

Notable 2022 wins: Preakness Stakes (G1), Pimlico, Early Voting; Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), Oaklawn Park, Letruska; Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1), Churchill Downs, Obligatory; Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1), Keeneland, Regal Glory; Just a Game Stakes (G1), Belmont Park, Regal Glory

When favorite Epicenter got stuck in traffic early in the 2022 Preakness, Ortiz and Early Voting took advantage. Early Voting carried a 3 1/2-lead into the stretch at Pimlico, wandered out toward the center of the track, and then veered back toward the rail to hold the late-running Epicenter at bay. Ortiz’s victory was his second in a Triple Crown event and first in the middle jewel. Ortiz surpassed the $200 million career earnings mark in a season that saw him win seven Grade 1 races.

7. Florent Geroux, $16.84 million

Notable 2022 wins: Arkansas Derby (G1), Oaklawn Park, Cyberknife; Haskell Stakes (G1), Monmouth Park, Cyberknife; Cotillion Stakes (G1), Parx, Society; Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2), Keeneland, Slammed; Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2), Churchill Downs, Shedaresthedevil

The Haskell Stakes was a clash of three runners – Cyberknife, Jack Christopher and Taiba – who each won at least two Grade 1 races in 2022. Geroux and Cyberknife got the best of that battle, rallying along the rail and turning back Taiba by a head. Although Geroux ranked seventh nationally in wins, his 125 were his fewest in a season since 2013, when he tallied 96. Geroux parted ways in the fall with longtime agent Doug Bredar, hiring John Panagot to handle his book.

8. Manny Franco, $15.18 million

Notable 2022 wins: Manhattan Stakes (G1), Belmont Park, Tribhuvan; Wonder Again Stakes (G2), Belmont Park, Consumer Spending; Tom Fool Handicap (G3), Aqueduct, Officiating; Waya Stakes (G3), Aqueduct, Rocky Sky; Belmont Turf Sprint Stakes (G3), Aqueduct, Dancing Buck

Franco’s lone Grade 1 win of 2022 came in front-running fashion aboard a 19-1 shot. Tribhuvan led every step of the Manhattan Stakes under Franco, opening up by seven lengths before beating his shorter-priced stablemate from Brown’s barn, Adhamo, by 3 1/2. Franco was the top-earning jockey during Aqueduct’s 2022 spring meet. He also ranked third in wins and fourth in earnings during the spring and summer at Belmont Park.

9. Juan Hernandez, $15.02 million

Notable 2022 wins: Hollywood Derby (G1), Del Mar, Speaking Scout; American Oaks (G1), Santa Anita, Rhea Moon; La Brea Stakes (G1), Santa Anita, Fun to Dream; American Pharoah Stakes (G1), Santa Anita, Cave Rock; Del Mar Futurity (G1), Del Mar, Cave Rock

Hernandez continued his ascension up the national leaderboard, cracking the top-10 earnings list for the first time. He was aboard flashy Bob Baffert-trained Cave Rock, who won two Grade 1 races in Southern California before finishing second to Forte in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. If the Arrogate colt continues on his course toward the Kentucky Derby, Hernandez could make his first start in the Run for the Roses. Hernandez’s Del Mar Futurity win aboard Cave Rock was one of his meet-leading 49 during the Del Mar summer stand.

10. John Velazquez, $13.53 million

Notable 2022 wins: Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), Keeneland, Malathaat; Cigar Mile Handicap (G1), Aqueduct, Mind Control; Personal Ensign Stakes (G1), Saratoga, Malathaat; Spinster Stakes (G1), Keeneland, Malathaat; Gallant Bob Stakes (G2), Parx, Scaramouche

Velazquez and Malathaat got the best of a three-way photo finish in what might have been the most thrilling race of 2022, the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Malathaat closed from seventh under the veteran jockey to hit the wire a nose ahead of Blue Stripe, who finished a nose ahead of Clairiere. The Pletcher-trained Malathaat and Velazquez have teamed up for five Grade 1 victories, including three in 2022. Velazquez also now owns 19 Breeders’ Cup triumphs in his decorated career.