2014 SEASON: finished eighth in the Maryland standings with 53 winners…led the colony with 10 stakes victories…was aboard Ben’s Cat for two added money victories in the state and two more out of town…won Private Terms and Tesio Stakes aboard Kid Cruz and earned his second Preakness Stakes (G1) mount aboard the Linda Rice trainee (finished eighth)…ranked 73rd nationally in earnings ($3.4 million).

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: After five years as one of the top riders on the New Jersey circuit moved his tack to Maryland during the summer 2006…was second in the Pimlico-Laurel Park standings in 2011 with 102 winners and established a career-high with 146 victories…captured the 2008 Laurel summer meet riding title…teamed won a career-best five races on October 11, 2011…rode Norman Asbjornson in the Preakness Stakes (G1)… won his 1,000th race aboard Pet Me Pet Me at Delaware Park on September 19, 2011…rode four winners at Laurel Park on September 29 2012, including three aboard Mike Trombetta trained runners finished third in the local standings in 2008 2010 and 2012… teamed up with Trombetta for a pair of important stakes wins in ‘08: Spectacular Malibu (Maryland Million Distaff) and Peace Town (Maryland Juvenile Championship)…rode Ben’s Cat to a added money victories in 2010, 2012 and 2013…2001 finalist for outstanding apprentice when he was the leading rider at The Meadowlands, winning 145 races and earning a career-best $4.3 million…top 10 rider at Monmouth Park and The Meadowlands from 2001-2005…ranked 50th in earnings in 2004 ($4.2 million)…won the Oceanport Handicap (G3) with Runspastum…rode his first domestic winner aboard Concega in December 2000…rode in his native Columbia for more than a year before heading to the States.

 

PERSONAL: began his career as an exercise rider for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott…agent is Ronnie Gerardo.