Diego Herrera (right) | Benoit
With an elite-level victory under his belt, jockey Diego Herrera will move his tack east to set up at Gulfstream Park in South Florida, the track announced Sunday afternoon.
The 21-year-old Herrera was the pilot aboard British Isles (Justify) last Saturday when the gelding pulled the upset to take home the Big Cap. An Inglewood, CA native, he’s also won the 2025 GIII Cecil B. DeMille on Unrivaled Time (Not This Time) and the 2024 GIII Autumn Miss Stakes with Watchtower (Demarchelier {GB}). His move comes after Herrera traveled to Gulfstream for the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes, and so much enjoyed the atmosphere, decided to make the move more permanent. He will be represented by agent Kevin Meyocks.
“I’m trying to seek more opportunities to ride and get more experience,” said Herrera, who has won 257 races [since 2021] through Saturday. “Things can get light out here sometimes, a lot of smaller fields. I went to Gulfstream to ride British Isles in the Pegasus, and I liked the atmosphere, I liked Gulfstream, and I spoke to Kevin and it seemed like something I’d like to try.”
“I was riding ponies at probably 6-years-old, quarter horses around 12 and I got licensed at 15 [?] to ride. I love the sport. I’m due to get in around March 19 and we’ll see what happens. I’m really looking forward to it.”
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