Less than 24 hours after finishing a close second in the $2 million Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan, jockey Emisael Jaramillo returned to Gulfstream Park in Florida and wasted no time getting back in the winner’s circle. The Venezuelan-born rider, who had just stepped off a 16-hour flight from Dubai, won the opening race on Sunday aboard ORTLEY AVENUE for trainer George Weaver and Bona Venture Stables.
The 5½-furlong sprint for three-year-old maidens on the all-weather Tapeta track saw Jaramillo take the lead early and guide the Irish-bred colt to a decisive 2¼-length victory in 1:03.45. Remarkably, the win came just two hours after he touched down at Miami International Airport.
“We landed at 10 a.m., and at 11:40 I was here to ride the first race,” said Jaramillo, 48, through an interpreter. “I came from the airport to the track.” Jaramillo, Venezuela’s all-time leading rider with more than 4,000 wins before moving to the U.S. in 2015, nearly added another major international trophy to his resume on Saturday when he finished second aboard NAKATOMI in the Golden Shaheen. Trained by Wesley Ward, the colt was beaten by a mere length by 65-1 outsider DARK SAFFRON in one of the biggest surprises of the Dubai World Cup night.
“I prepared myself to rest after riding. I watched some TV and took something to help me sleep,” said Jaramillo. “I slept for 10 hours during the flight. The airplane is very comfortable.” Despite the jet lag, Jaramillo rode four races on Sunday, finishing second in two of them and fourth in another. Among his rides was AMJAAD, a Triple Crown-nominated colt trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, who finished second in Race 6.
Jaramillo recently wrapped up Gulfstream’s Championship Meet with 40 wins, ranking sixth overall in victories and 10th in total earnings at over $1.4 million. He piloted ASHIMA to victory in the Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf and won the Mucho Gusto Starter Handicap with K.C. CHIEF.
“To be able to return in time and win at my home track is very special,” he said. “I’m always mentally prepared for those long trips and to go from one place to another and keep riding.”
