Bug Boys Win Six of Eight Races, Correa Bags Riding Triple

LAUREL, MD – Apprentice jockeys were the rule and not the exception at Laurel Park on Thursday, winning six of eight races led by Julio Correa’s three-win afternoon.

A 25-year-old native of Caguas, Puerto Rico who came to the U.S. in 2017 after graduating from the famed Escuela Vocacional Hipica jockey school that also produced Hall of Famer John Velazquez and Eclipse Award-winning brothers Jose and Irad Ortiz Jr., Correa completed his hat trick aboard Stroll Smokin ($9) in Race 8.

Correa, who rides with a five-pound weight allowance, kicked off the card with a victory on Confusion Baby Boy ($27.80) in Thursday’s opener, and began the late daily double by winning Race 7 with City Gold ($7).

“I think he’s just a tremendously talented young man. I only hope we can keep him here before he goes to New York or somewhere else,” Stroll Smokin’s trainer, Mark Reid, said. “He sits a horse great, he finishes good, he has a great sense of pace. He rides a lot older than he is.”

It was the second career three-win day for Correa, who has 64 victories from 423 lifetime mounts, including six of his last 12 at Laurel dating back to July 12. He ranks first in the rider standings at the current summer stand with 101 starts and second with 15 wins, three behind multiple meet and year-end champion Trevor McCarthy.

“Mark, when I came here for the first time, he took me in like a son and I really appreciate that,” Correa said. “I want to do my best for him.”

Seven-pound apprentice Victor Rosales had two winners Thursday, aboard Rage Away ($7.80) in Race 2 and Miss Guided ($4) in Race 4, while 19-year-old Kentucky native Avery Whisman, who also rides with a seven-pound allowance, captured Race 6 on Barbsgray Lion ($26.40).

Rosales has 10 wins from 93 mounts at the summer meet while Whisman, who ranked second to McCarthy at the preceding Preakness Meet at Pimlico, is nine-for-60.

“Victor and me have a good relationship in the jockey’s room,” Correa said. “Whisman is a quiet kid but he’s been riding good. We all try to do the best in the race. It’s very competitive with all the bug boys here.”

Notes: There will be a carryover of $2,387.34 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 for Friday (Races 4-9), which includes the first two legs of the $100,000 guaranteed national Stronach 5 wager (Races 8-9). Multiple tickets with all six winners Thursday returned $631.90.