Velazquez surpasses Cordero on Saratoga's all-time list

Last updated: 9/1/11 8:33 PM

John Velazquez scored his 650th win at the Spa, relegating his agent Angel Cordero Jr. to third on the all-time list
(NYRA/Adam Coglianese)

With his victory aboard Sweet Cat (Kitten’s Joy) in the

11TH race Thursday, jockey John Velazquez moved past Hall of Famer
Angel Cordero Jr., and into the number two spot among the all-time
leading jockeys at Saratoga Race Course.

Velazquez, currently the leading jockey at the 2011 Saratoga meet,
now has 650 victories at the Spa, surpassing Cordero, his agent and
mentor, who retired with 649 wins.

They both trail retired Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey, who sits atop the
leader board with 693 visits to the Saratoga winner’s circle.

“This means a lot,” said Velazquez, who has 49 winners so far this
meet. “To be right next to Angel Cordero and follow in Jerry Bailey’s
footsteps is a great accomplishment. There are no other words to
describe it.”

Velazquez was congratulated in the winner’s circle by Cordero and trainer
Todd Pletcher, who owns and trains Sweet Cat.

“I’m glad for him,” Cordero said. “I know I was happy when I did it.”

Rounding out the top five in wins among jockeys at Saratoga are Hall of
Famers Edgar Prado and Pat Day, with 423 and 399 victories, respectively.

Velazquez, 39, is the career leader in purses earned at Saratoga, with more
than $39 million and counting. Bailey is second all-time in purses at the Spa
with $38 million.