HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Miguel Vasquez notched a natural hat trick at Gulfstream Park Thursday, putting the finishing touches on another rock-solid Championship Meet.
The under-the-radar jockey, who rides year-round at Gulfstream Park, ran his Championship Meet total to 45 wins while scoring aboard Starship Nugget ($4.60) in Race 4, Amani’s Eagle ($15.60) in Race 5, and Protonic Power ($7.20) in Race 6. Vasquez ranks seventh in wins.
The 27-year-old jockey, who ventured from Panama to South Florida in 2014, ranked eighth last season with 46 victories.
Vasquez inched closer to the 1000-win milestone while pushing his U.S. win total to 975 with Thursday’s hat trick.
Who’s Hot: Trainer Fausto Gutierrez saddled Amani’s Eagle ($15.60) and Protonic Power ($7.20) for back-to-back victories in Races 5-6.
Leading rider Luis Saez doubled aboard Hard to Capture ($17.40) in Race 2 and Brasstown ($5.80) in Race 7. Irad Ortiz Jr. also rode a pair of winners, scoring aboard Dem a Wonder ($4.80) in Race 3 and Winter Princess ($5.60) in Race 8.
Gulfstream Park Press Release
Photo of Miguel Vasquez by Ryan Thompson
