Race History for Top Jockeys at 2019 Kentucky Derby – Mike Smith, Joel Rosario, & More

• See the race history for the top jockeys in the 2019 Kentucky Derby
• Which jockeys have won the Kentucky Derby before?
• See their 2019 earnings

The 145th running of the Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday evening at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. With the favorite, Omaha Beach, scratched due to a throat ailment, this year’s race promises to be one of the most competitive in recent history, and could likely be decided by jockey performance.

This year’s race features some of the top-ranked riders in horse racing, including several rising stars looking to reach the Run for the Roses winner’s circle for the first time. Here’s a quick look at a few of the jockeys to watch for at this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Race History for Top Jockeys at 2019 Kentucky Derby

*As of 05/03/19
**Denotes Triple Crown winner

Joel Rosario

• 34 years old
• Kentucky Derby Horse: Game Winner
• Best Kentucky Derby Finish: 1st (2013)

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Rosario quickly emerged as a top rider after moving to California in 2006. Rosario would later move to the East Coast of the United States and gained international acclaim after riding Orb to victory by 2.5 lengths at the 2013 Kentucky Derby.

Other notable wins have come at the 2014 Belmont Stakes and the 2013 Dubai World Cup, as well as a victory atop Accelerate at last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Game Winner will be Rosario’s ride at this year’s Kentucky Derby. Perched as +400 favorite entering the weekend, Game Winner was forced to settle for second place in his past two outings, at the Santa Anita Derby and Rebel Stakes, but opened his career with four wins, most notably at last year’s American Pharoah Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Florent Geroux

• 32 years old
• Kentucky Derby Horse: Roadster
• Best Kentucky Derby Finish: 3rd (2016)

A rising star out of Argentan, France, Geroux arrived at Churchill Downs this year in pursuit of his first Kentucky Derby victory.

Geroux received a taste of victory in Louisville last year, riding Monomoy Girl to the win at the 2018 Kentucky Oaks, adding to an already impressive resume that includes wins in the Arlington Million and Breeders’ Cup Classic, but has yet to find the winners’ circle in any of the three US Triple Crown races.

Geroux will be Roadster’s mount at this year’s Kentucky Derby. Trained by Bob Baffert, the colt briefly ascended to the top of the Kentucky Derby odds after edging out Game Winner at the Santa Anita Derby, but currently trails his stablemate as a +450 second favorite.

Irad Ortiz Jr.

• 26 years old
• Kentucky Derby Horse: Improbable
• Best Kentucky Derby Finish: 7th (2018)

Currently the top money winner among North American thoroughbred jockeys, Ortiz has kept busy in 2019, making a staggering 560 starts and recording 132 victories. The Puerto Rico native has been among the top money winners in recent years, finishing top three in each of the past five years, including last year’s first-place finish.

Success has eluded Ortiz at the Kentucky Derby, with his best performance coming a year ago, when he rode Hofburg to a seventh-place finish. Ortiz has also failed to win in five outings since arriving at Churchill Downs at the end of April.

However, the 26-year-old found the winner’s circle at the 2016 Belmont Stakes atop Creator, and will be riding one of the favorites in this year’s Kentucky Derby, with Improbable listed as a +500 wager despite closing out the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a second-place run at the Arkansas Derby.

Luis Saez

• 26 years old
• Kentucky Derby Horse: Maximum Security
• Best Kentucky Derby Finish: 7th (2016)

Saez has also kept busy so far in 2019, recording 124 wins in 541 starts, but currently lags in fifth place in earnings. The 26-year-old Panamanian made his Triple Crown race debut at the 2013 Belmont Stakes, where he struggled to take Freedom Child to a 13th place finish.

However, success would eventually come Saez’ way in 2017, with a win at the Arkansas Derby and a second-place run at the Preakness Stakes aboard Bravazo.

Saez will be aboard the only undefeated horse at this year’s Kentucky Derby. Maximum Security has galloped to victory in four career races including a win in his graded stakes debut at the Florida Derby last time out, earning him a spot among the favorites as a +700 bet.

Jose Ortiz

• 25 years old
• Kentucky Derby Horse: Tacitus
• Best Kentucky Derby Finish: 2nd (2018)

After falling short in his best-ever finish last year, Ortiz returns to Churchill Downs looking for his first career Kentucky Derby win. The 25-year-old was forced to settle for second place last year, trailing eventual Triple Crown winner Justify by 2.5 lengths.

However, Ortiz tasted victory at the 2017 Belmont Stakes aboard Tapwrit, and also has wins to his credit at the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

This time around, Ortiz will be riding Tacitus. The William Mott-trained colt is coming off wins at the Tampa Bay Derby and Wood Memorial, and sits just shy of the favorites as an intriguing +800 wager on the Kentucky derby odds.

John R. Velazquez

• 47 years old
• Kentucky Derby Horse: Code of Honor
• Best Kentucky Derby Finish: 1st (2011, 2017)

One of two two-time winning riders in this year’s Kentucky Derby, Velazquez sports an impressive resume that also features a pair of victories at the Belmont Stakes as well as an impressive five career wins at the Woodbine Mile.

The 47-year-old Puerto Rican is also among the leading money earners this year, and is currently ranked fourth despite starting just 259 races. Velazquez will be gunning for his third career Kentucky Derby win aboard Code of Honor.

Trained by Claude R. McGaughey III, Code of Honor has struggled with consistency in his young career, picking up just one win in three graded stakes race appearances, and finished third last time out at the Florida Derby, but remains in the hunt as +1200 wager in Saturday’s race.

Mike E. Smith

• 53 years old
• Kentucky Derby Horse: Cutting Humor
• Best Kentucky Derby Finish: 1st (2005, 2018)

The Kentucky Derby field would not be complete without Mike Smith. Smith looked to be out of contention in this year’s race after his ride Omaha Beach was scratched earlier this week.

Jockey Corey Lanerie said he was "in shock" upon learning he'd lost the Kentucky Derby mount on Cutting Humor. Plus Mike Smith's comments: https://t.co/6jC1vss1sb pic.twitter.com/SfKJZNCtgQ

— Horse Racing Nation (@HR_Nation) May 3, 2019

The 53-year-old American was originally expected to ride Roadster at this year’s race before switching to Omaha Beach. With Omaha Beach now sidelined, Smith will now be aboard Todd Pletcher-trained Cutting Humor, who is pegged as a +2800 wager in Kentucky Derby betting following a winning run at the Sunland Derby.

Smith makes a triumphant return to Churchill Downs after riding Justify to Triple Crown immortality a year ago, and also found the winner’s circle with Giacomo in 2005.

In addition to last year’s Triple Crown win, Smith has also posted three wins at the Belmont Stakes and two wins at the Preakness Stakes, to go along with an impressive 26 career wins in Breeders’ Stakes races.

Our Other 2019 Kentucky Derby Coverage:

• Racing Form for 2019 Kentucky Derby Top Contenders
• Kentucky Derby Longshot Picks: Code of Honor, By My Standards & War of Will
• 2019 Kentucky Derby Betting: Where to Bet Online & What Bets Each Are Offering
• 2019 Kentucky Derby Favorites: Find the Best Odds for Game Winner, Roadster, Improbable
• 2019 Kentucky Derby Props: Margin of Victory, Wire-to-Wire Winner, Color of Horse & More
• Pedigree for 2019 Kentucky Derby Favorites: Game Winner, Roadster, Improbable, Tacitus & Maximum Security
• Trends to Know Before Betting the 2019 Kentucky Derby
• Formula That Has Predicted Each of Last 5 Kentucky Derby Winners Says Improbable Will Win in 2019