Jockey Javier Castellano notches 4,000th career victory

By foxsports
Published

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (AP) Jockey Javier Castellano got the 4,000th win of his career Sunday, prevailing aboard Captain Stan in the 10th race of the day at Gulfstream Park.

''Thank God for the opportunity,'' said Castellano, after his fellow jockeys joined him in the winner's circle for a brief ceremony. ''I've been riding a lot of good horses lately.''

The 37-year-old Castellano has won the Eclipse Award in each of the past two years. He was aboard Bernardini for the win at the 2006 Preakness, guided Ghostzapper to victory at the 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic and has won 67 Grade 1 races overall - including two at Gulfstream on Saturday.

Castellano's mounts have won more than $217 million in purses, 12th-most for any jockey in history. He's the 67th jockey with 4,000 victories.