Javier Castellano, Ramon Dominguez, Mario Gutierrez and John Velazquez were
announced Wednesday by ESPN as the four nominees in the “Best Jockey” category
of the 20th annual ESPY Awards. The ESPYS, which honor a wide array of athletes
and sports entities, will take place July 11 at the Nokia Theatre in Los
Angeles.
Castellano currently leads all North American riders with over $10.2 million
in purse earnings. Dominguez has won each of the last two Eclipse Awards
as North America’s top jockey. Gutierrez emerged from relative obscurity and
made headlines earlier this year with his winning rides aboard I’ll Have Another
in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. Velazquez, a two-time Eclipse
Award winner (2004 and 2005) guided Union Rags to victory in this year’s Belmont
Stakes.
Velazquez was the winner in the “Best Jockey” category at last year’s ESPYS
following his winning 2011 Kentucky Derby ride on Animal Kingdom.
Final results will be determined by fan balloting now available at
ESPN.com/ESPYS and
facebook.com/espn.
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