Jose Lezcano

Jose Lezcano
Occupation	Jockey
Born	April 20, 1985 Panama
Major racing wins
Delaware Oaks (2005) Florida Oaks (2005) Tampa Bay Derby (2006) Colonial Turf Cup (2007) Rumson Stakes (2007) Sorority Stakes (2007) Cotillion Handicap (2008) Eatontown Handicap (2008) Gotham Stakes (2008) Great White Way (2008) Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (2008) Violet Handicap (2008) Bold Ruler Handicap (2009) Carry Back Stakes (2009) Kelso Stakes (2009) Remsen Stakes (2009) Smile Sprint Handicap (2009) Appleton Handicap (2010) Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (2010) Dwyer Stakes (2010) Florida Derby (2010) Appalachian Stakes (2011) Breeders' Cup wins: Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (2008) Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (2011)
Racing awards
Leading jockey at Tampa Bay Downs (2006) Leading jockey at Monmouth Park (2008) Leading jockey at Gulfstream Park (2009)
Significant horses
Buddy's Saint, Deputy Glitters, Einstein, Ice Box, Maram, Seattle Smooth, Winter Memories, Royal Delta

Jose Lezcano (born April 20, 1985 in Panama) is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He rides in New York in the spring, summer and fall and spends the winter in Florida. His big break came in 2008 when he won a Breeders' Cup race.

Lezcano attended the Laffit Pincay Jockey School in his native Panama before moving to the U.S. in January 2003 and launching his career at Gulfstream Park where he earned his first win in March 2004 aboard Cloudy Gray. He spent his first season at Monmouth in 2005, finishing fifth in the standings overall.

In 2008, Jose Lezcano won with his first and only Breeders' Cup mount, Maram, in the inaugural edition of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The win also was a first Breeders' Cup victory for trainer Chad Brown and owners Karen Woods and Saud bin Khaled, who were all starting a Breeders' Cup runner for the first time.

Top mounts for 2009 included Eaton's Gift (G2 Smile Sprint Handicap), Not for Silver (G2 Carry Back Stakes), Cosmonaut (G3 Fort Marcy Stakes), I Lost My Choo (G3 Honey Fox Stakes), Buddy's Humor (G3 Pan American Stakes), and Ballymore Lady (G3 Endeavour Stakes).

Enjoyed a career year in 2008 which was his big break, replacing perennial leader Joe Bravo as the leading rider at Monmouth Park Racetrack with 141 wins, then taking the 2008 fall season at the Meadowlands Racetrack. He carried that momentum into the 2009 Gulfstream Park meet and also earned a leading rider title there with 71 wins. Agent Jason Bidas holds his book.

Jose Lezcano tied a Monmouth Park record on June 22, 2008, riding six winners – including Coli Bear in the Blue Sparkler Stakes – on one card.

Rode Deputy Glitters, his first Triple Crown contender, to an eighth place finish in the 2006 edition of the G1 Kentucky Derby. Was 12th aboard Visionaire in 2008. He was second in the 2010 Kentucky Derby on Ice Box.

Won the 2006 riding title at The Meadowlands and carried that success to Florida where he won the Tampa Bay Downs riding title, the same season he captured the G3 Tampa Bay Derby with Deputy Glitters.

References

• Ziegel, Vic (October 24, 2008). "Can't beat Maram in $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf at Breeders' Cup". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 27, 2010. This was her third start, her third win. And the first Breeders' Cup ride, and score, for 23-year-old jockey Jose Lezcano, leading rider at the recent Monmouth meeting.

Year-end charts

Chart (2005–present)	Peak position
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2005	51
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2006	24
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2007	28
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2008	13
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2009	14