John Velazquez wins 3000th race

On the day when his likeness was given out to the fans at Saratoga in the form of a bobblehead, it was only fitting that jockey John Velazquez would put his name on the record books in the second race of the card, winning his 3,000th race aboard Runingforpresident. Velazquez is simply following in the footsteps of his agent, retired riding great Angel Cordero, Jr. Cordero still holds the record of 640 career wins at Saratoga, but Velazquez has topped his mentor by being the only jockey to win six races in one day, which he did in 2001, and the jockey to win the most races in one meet with 61 last year. His 3000th winner is trained by Todd Pletcher, who has supplied Velazquez with a steady supply of classy mounts over the last few years.

Velazquez said of the feat, "It's a great feeling. Get it over with and move on to other things. Get it done as quick as you can and don't think about it. It happened quickly. I'm 32, and I'll be 33 in November. Never in my dreams would I have thought that I would have won 3,000, being 32 as young as I am. Thank God, I've stayed healthy and thanks to all the people that really gave me a hand like Todd Pletcher and all the trainers who have given me the opportunities. Angel is doing a great job and I have to give him a lot of credit because he makes 99 percent of the decisions. I come here and I like the competition. I like winning. (Angel) is the one that's push, push and push all the time, and that gives me the drive to push a little more, but he's the pusher. He sets goals and I'm more easy-going."

Among his 3,000 career victories, the 5'6" Velazquez has won four Breeders' Cup races, including two in 2002. He won the Filly and Mare Turf aboard Starine and the Juvenile Fillies aboard Storm Flag Flying at Arlington. In 1998 he was aboard Da Hoss in the Mile, and captured the 2000 Juvenile Fillies with Caressing, both at Churchill Downs. So far in 2004, he is winning at an impressive 24% clip, and finishes in the money 57% of the time.

In Bill Heller's recently released book, Saratoga Tales, Cordero spoke glowingly about his protégé, who he convinced to come to America from his native Puerto Rico in 1990. Referring to Velazquez breaking Manuel Ycaza's record for wins, he said, "I chased that guy for 14 years and never got close." Pointing at Velazquez, he added, "I feel like I did it through him."