JOSE LEZCANO IS JOCKEY OF THE MONTH
January’s Jockey of the Month is Jose Lezcano. Lezcano graduated from the Laffit Pincay, Jr. Jockey School in the same class as Eddie Castro and Fernando Guerra. Lezcao was born in 1985 and Panama, and rode there for two years before starting his Stateside riding career in 2004 at GulfstreamPark. In March of that year he won his first American race there aboard Cloudy Gray, and in 2005 came to Oldsmar for the Tampa Bay Downs racing season. He flourished here, finishing 4th overall in the 2005 jockey standings. Later that year, Lezcano finished 3rd in the Grade I Alabama Stakes in Saratoga.
Lezcano returned to Tampa Bay Downs in 2006 and emerged from that season as the leading rider with ninety-two victories and $1,391,755 in purse money won. This year, as of January 17, he has already amassed twenty-nine victories, nineteen seconds and sixteen third-place finishes out of ninety-one rides; he has accrued $370,285 in purse money in 23 days of racing. He has finished in the money in a whopping 70% of his rides. Lezcano cites Laffit Pincay, Jr. as his major influence in racing, but says that he deeply respects all jockeys coming out of Panama. His most memorable mounts were Deputy Glitters, whom he rode in last year’s Tampa Bay Derby and in the Kentucky Derby that May; and R Lady Joy, who captured the Florida Oaks here at Tampa Bay Downs on March 19, 2005. His agent Jason Beides says of Lezcano, “He’s a tremendous rider, and I’m very lucky to be associated with him.”
Racing resumes tomorrow, January 19, with a ten-race card. Tampa Bay Downs’ gates will open at 11:00 AM and post time for the first race is approximately 12:25 PM. The Silks Card Room will offer live poker action from noon until midnight. Tomorrow is Dollar Day, with $1 Grandstand admission, $1 programs, popcorn and soda.
Saturday, January 20th will feature The Gasparilla Stakes, a $60,000 seven-furlong test for fillies three years old. Saturday is also Hat Giveaway Day, with 7,500 logo caps to be given away with paid admission.