The heroics of Mychel Sanchez at Parx on Wednesday and the collective on-track accomplishments of elder statesmen John Velazquez, Javier Castellano, Mike Smith, and Frankie Dettori highlighted the week of racing and led the panel of racing experts to honor them with Jockey of the Week, Sept. 22-Sept. 28.
The weekly honor recognizes jockeys for significant riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys’ Guild, the organization that represents more than 1050 active, retired, and permanently disabled jockeys in the U.S.
A typical race week for Mychel Sanchez involves riding between Parx and Laurel Park. But last Wednesday was typical only because of riding at Parx. Sanchez was aboard Dark Devil for trainer Silvio Ramirez in race 7, a one-mile maiden special weight contest. Around the first turn, Sanchez heard jockey Abner Adorno aboard Sole Lute yelling when his rein broke and his mount bolted from inside to the outside rail.
“I had to do something, not only because it was him, a great friend, husband, and father, but I saw in his face how in trouble he was,” said Sanchez.
Midway down the backstretch, Sanchez guided his mount to the outside rail, placing him in front of Adorno’s to help slow the reinless horse while averting possible disaster in a scary situation. The stewards declared Sanchez’s mount a non-starter for wagering purposes.
“I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t go out of my way (to help him), knowing I could, and something would have happened to him and the horse,” said Sanchez.
Mychel Sanchez (second from the left) guides his horse to the outside rail to slow jockey Abner Adorno’s mount after the reins broke mid-race on Sept. 24
Hall of Famers John Velazquez, 53, Mike Smith, 60, and Javier Castellano, 47, as well as international superstar Frankie Dettori, 54, continue to prove they are each still at the top of their game, recording graded stakes wins with Breeders’ Cup implications. All of them will have mounts this weekend at either Belmont at the Big A, Keeneland, or Santa Anita in graded stakes action.
John Velazquez guided Locked for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher to a win in the Grade 2 Woodward and added the G2 Beldame aboard Gun Song for trainer Mark Hennig.
Mike Smith recorded a win in the G1 Goodwood aboard Nevada Beach, the less-regarded of trainer Bob Baffert’s two entries.
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Javier Castellano posted a win in the G3 Vosburgh aboard Patriot Spirit for trainer Michael Campbell, and legendary jockey Frankie Dettori, who has moved his tack to the United States after a stellar riding career in Great Britain, won the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic with Rebel’s Romance for British Champion trainer Charlie Appleby.
In addition to being in demand to ride top-level horses, the well-respected elder statesmen, John Velazquez and Mike Smith, are co-chairmen of the Jockeys’ Guild and work tirelessly to advocate on behalf of riders across the country for improved safety and the well-being of both human and equine athletes.
Other contenders for Jockey of the Week included Tyler Gaffalione with his 6th consecutive riding title at Churchill, Irad Ortiz, Jr., who won the most races, and the “Next Generation” group of Francisco Arrieta, Juan J. Hernandez, Jose Ortiz, Umberto Rispoli, and Luis Saez, who all recorded graded stakes victories.
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Oct 1, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.