Edwin Gonzalez. (Ryan Thompson)
Edwin Gonzalez Rides 2000th Winner Sunday at Gulfstream
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jockey Edwin Gonzalez rode the 2000th winner of his career Sunday at Gulfstream Park, guiding Bobby Bob to victory in Race 6.
The 34-year-old jockey was accompanied by his wife Karina and friends during a winner’s circle ceremony celebrating a milestone achieved by winning a lot of races at every stop in a well-traveled career.
“I’m feeling amazing. It’s been a long road to get here. It was a special moment crossing the wire,” said Gonzalez, who stalked the pace aboard Bobby Bob ($8) before making a wide stretch rally aboard the Antonio Sano-trained 3-year-old gelding to prevail by three-quarters of a length in the mile-and-70-yard maiden claiming race on Tapeta. “I came here [to the U.S.] alone and kept working hard. I’m going to keep working 24-7.”
Gonzalez has been a standout at his profession, literally, as well as physically. Noticeably tall for a jockey, he has used what others may view as a disadvantage to his distinct advantage.
“I help the horses with my legs and long arms. I’ve learned from some good guys, like Edwin Castro — he’s a tall rider in Puerto Rico,” said Gonzalez, referring to Camarero’s dominant veteran jockey with more than 2800 winners. “Turning for home, I help them with my legs and my long arms. I don’t have to hit them.”
Gonzalez first ventured to Gulfstream at the tail end of the 2020-2021 Championship Meet, winning his first race at the Hallandale Beach track aboard Phat Man March 28, 2021 on his second day of competition. He has gone on to become a prominent year-round force in the Gulfstream jockey’s room.
“I’ve been riding better horses for better trainers. They gave me the opportunity to keep going,” said Gonzalez, whose mounts have earned more than $41.5 million in purses. “I’ve been working hard. I’ve been given the opportunity to ride good horses. I thank all the trainers that support me.”
Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Gonzalez rode his first winner at Camarero aboard his third mount, Perfeccionista, Dec. 20, 2009. He rode 443 winners before relocating to Penn National in 2013. He dominated the jockey’s standings there, achieving a win rate of 31 percent in 2019 while riding 236 winners and 34 percent in 2020 while winning 172 races. He notched career win No. 1000 aboard Pilot Moon at Penn National March 11, 2021 shortly before moving on the Gulfstream.
Gonzalez won his first Gulfstream riding title during last fall’s Sunshine Meet, edging defending champion Edgard Zayas by one winner on closing day. Since arriving at Gulfstream Park, he has averaged just shy of one winner from every five mounts.
After winning four graded stakes in Puerto Rico, including the Grade 1 Clasico Dia del Veterano, Gonzalez has registered three graded-stakes scores in the U.S. aboard Ghost Hunter in the 2017 Arlington Handicap (G3), Shifty She in the 2021 Noble Damsel (G2) and Skippylongstocking in the 2022 West Virginia Derby (G3).
