Ricardo Santana, Jr.

Like Hall of Famers Laffit Pincay, Jr. and Braulio Baeza, Ricardo Santana is a native of Panama. Santana came to the United States to ride in 2009 at the age of 16, making Delaware Park his home track. His work ethic and ability contributed to his success as leading rider there in 2012 and in 2013 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., where he would become a staple at the top of the rider standings.

In 2013, Santana won his first career graded stakes, the Count Fleet, aboard Justin Phillip for one of his main clients, Steve Asmussen. Santana won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and the Southwest Stakes with Tapiture, who was his first mount in the Kentucky Derby.

Santana guided Creator to an 11.60-1 upset win in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby in 2016, a year in which he earned the jockey title for the fourth straight year and established a new benchmark for earning in a single season with $4,064,073. Santana added leading rider titles at Oaklawn in 2017 and 2018, the latter a year in which he set new career bests with 189 wins and $14,036,047 in purse earnings. Santana also earned his 1,000th career win in 2018 when he guided Westfest to a clear victory in the sixth race April 12 at Oaklawn Park and earned three more Grade 1 wins on Unbridled Mo, Bee Jersey, and Whitmore. Santana finished third in the 2018 Preakness aboard Tenfold and second in the 2018 Twinspires.com Breeders' Cup Sprint on Whitmore.

In 2019, Santana and sprinter Mitole enjoyed a memorable campaign, winning four Grade 1 races including the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap, aka the Met Mile, and the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The latter was Santana’s first win at the World Championships.