Well on his way to a Sunshine Meet title, jockey Leonel Reyes got his weekend off to a fast start Friday at Gulfstream Park, riding six winners on a nine-race program, including the winners of the first three races.
The 40-year-old Venezuela native, who has been a mainstay in the Gulfstream jockey’s room since 2016, visited the winner’s circle aboard Pardo ($2.80) in Race 1, Camm’s Girl ($22.20) in Race 2, Amande ($4) in Race 3, With Kindness ($7.80) in Race 6, Uncle Dar ($12.60) in Race 8 and Dream Dancer ($3) in Race 9.
“I’m so happy and grateful, because last year I had the injury (fractured ankle) but now I am 100 percent,” said Reyes, who had ridden five winners in a row on the Sept. 13 Gulfstream program. “I’m just so happy. When I looked at the program today, I thought I had a good chance to win some races but six is a lot. Thank God it worked out.”
The record for most wins on a single Gulfstream Card stands at 7, shared by Jerry Bailey, Tyler Gaffalione, Luis Saez (twice), Paco Lopez and Irad Ortiz Jr.
Reyes, who has ridden nearly 1100 winners in North America, started the day with an eight-win lead over Royal Palm Meet titlist Diego Herrera in the jockey standings for the Sunshine Meet that runs through Nov. 22.
Pardo, Amande, Uncle Dar and Dream Dancer are trained by Jose D’Angelo, who is locked in a fierce battle for the Sunshine Meet training title with Saffie Joseph Jr.
