Jockey Vargas Jr. Records Career 1,000th

July 4, 2025

Jockey Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. (Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)

Aboard 13-1 Gran Yaco On Friday At Monmouth Park

Tom Luicci/Monmouth Park

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Jockey Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. notched the 1,000th win of his career on Friday at Monmouth Park when 13-1 Gran Yaco won the final race on the eight-race card.

“It’s a mix of emotions – I’m very happy but also relieved,” he said. “No matter what you say about trying not to think about it when you’re close it gets to you.

Jockey Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. scores his 1,000th career victory in the last race at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, NJ on Friday July 4, 2025 aboard Gran Yaco. Photo By Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
Vargas, Jr. scores 1,000th in the last race at Monmouth Park Friday. (Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)

“But I’m very happy with the accomplishment. It’s a great feeling.”

Vargas, who hails from Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, has been riding in the United States since 2013, winning with his first mount. His best year was in 2018 when he won 144 races with earnings of $5,450,944.

A graduate of the noted Puerto Rican jockey school Escuela Vocacional Hipica, Vargas is the fifth member of his class to reach the 1,000-win milestone, joining Victor Carrasco, Many Franco, Jevian Toledo and Edgard Zayas.

Overall, the 30-year-old has had 6,807 starts with career earnings of more than $40 million.

He currently splits his time between Parx and Monmouth Park. 

Jockey Paco Lopez pours a bucket of ice on the head of Jockey Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. after Vargas scored his 1,000th career victory in the last race at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, NJ on Friday July 4, 2025 aboard Gran Yaco. Photo By Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
Jockey Paco Lopez pours a bucket of ice on the head of Jockey Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. after Vargas in a traditional celebration. (Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)

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