The following article was first published on the Paulick Report website.
Jockey Javier Castellano returned to Gulfstream Park Sunday after adding another chapter to his lengthy career success story with a victory the previous afternoon at Caymanas Park in Jamaica’s biggest race, the $300,000 Mouttet Mile, which racing officials in the island nation consider a Grade 1 race.
Castellano guided Rideallday to a nine-length triumph over rival Legacy Isle in the richest horse race in the English-speaking Caribbean. The winning time was a record 1:36.40 on the dirt.
“It was awesome, just a great experience,” the 48-year-old Venezuela native said. “It was my first time in the country. I’d never been there to ride horses. To win the biggest race in the country is unbelievable. It’s a great feeling. The atmosphere, the people, the fans, they have so much passion for the races, for the horses. It’s a big party. Everybody’s excited for the races.”
Leading rider at the Championship Meet five consecutive years from 2011-2012 to 2015-2016, Castellano had been invited to Jamaica in each of the previous two years but had to pass up the opportunity to ride until this year.
“In 2023 I couldn’t go because I had a commitment to ride the Cigar Mile. In 2024 I had a commitment to ride in Venezuela,” he said. “This year I guess it was meant to be. [It was] the right place and the right time. They called me and I was open and able to go over there and ride the horse.”
Adding to the enjoyment for Castellano was that Rideallday is a Spendthrift Farm resident sire Vekoma, whom the four-time Eclipse Award winner rode to victories in the 2020 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and Carter Handicap (G1) and 2019 Blue Grass (G2).
“We had a lot of success together in the past,” Castellano said. “Now I had a chance to ride his son, in a different country, in the Grade 1, the biggest race in Jamaica. It’s a great feeling. It’s unbelievable. It’s another achievement for my career, and I’m very excited for that.”
Emisael Jaramillo, who rode Legacy Isle in the Mouttet Mile, was also back at Gulfstream and rode two winners Sunday, D. J. Stable’s Alpyland ($4.40) for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse in Race 5 and Vicente Stella Stables’ Blue Slide Park ($4.40) in Race 8 for trainer Victor Barboza Jr.
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