Juan P. Vargas

A native of Peru, Juan Vargas emerged on the national horse racing scene in early 2025 as the regular rider of Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve contender Coal Battle. The veteran jockey competed in his home country and in Argentina before he began riding in the U.S. in 2008. He picked up three graded stakes wins during 2013-14, two of them aboard turf campaigner Potomac River.

Vargas rides mainly in the Southeast and Midwest at tracks including Delta Downs and Fair Grounds. He piloted Coal Battle to four consecutive stakes victories during winter 2024-25: the Jean Lafitte Stakes, the Remington Springboard Mile Stakes, the Smarty Jones Stakes, and the Rebel Stakes.