Jevian Toledo, one of the mid-Atlantic’s premier riders, won two of the four $100,000 stakes races Laurel Park presented on Saturday and a total of seven races for the week leading the panel of racing experts to vote Toledo Jockey of the Week for April 8 through April 14.
The weekly award recognizes jockeys for riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys’ Guild, the organization which represents more than 1,050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
Toledo began the race week posting a three-win day on Friday. Riding for trainer Jonathan Maldonado, Toledo won the third race aboard Uncaptured Storm then the seventh race for trainer Horacio De Paz aboard Jester’s Song. He completed that day’s hat trick with a win in the final race of the day for trainer Miguel Vera with Pudd’n Pie.
On Saturday, Toledo posted another three-win day beginning with the third race aboard Naked and Famous for trainer Horacio De Paz.
Toledo won his second straight race riding Intrepid Dream for trainer Gary Capuano in the Heavenly Cause Stakes. Off as the favorite in the scratched-down field of four, Intrepid Dream raced off the pace stalking second choice Sweet Shild O Mine. Near the three-eighths pole, Toledo asked Intrepid Dream and she responded to edge clear posting a 2 1/2-length win in 1:39.01 for one mile on the dirt.
Riding for trainer Kenneth Cox, Toledo piloted Ain’t Da Beer Cold to a win in the final race of the day, the Native Dancer Stakes to complete Saturday’s hat trick. Breaking from the outside post in the field of seven, Toledo hustled Ain’t Da Beer Cold to the front. Making every pole a winning one, Ain’t Da Beer Cold fended off a determined challenge from Magic Michael in the stretch to win by a head in 1:52.70 for a mile and one-eighth on the dirt.
Toledo finished the week with a win on Sunday’s card with Energy Efficient for trainer Richard Sillaman.
Toledo, 28, is a native of Puerto Rico and began riding stateside in 2013 recording his first win outside of Puerto Rico on June 8, 2013. Riding mainly at Maryland tracks and Colonial Downs, Toledo has been the leading rider in Maryland four times, 2015, 2017, 2021 and 2022. He rode his 1,000th winner July 24, 2020 at Laurel and has been leading rider at Laurel and Pimlico multiple times. He captured his first G1 win at Aqueduct in the Carter Handicap in 2023 for perennial leading Maryland trainer, Brittany Russell.
Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Frankie Dettori who won the G1 Jenny Wiley, Florent Geroux who won the G3 Lexington, Juan J. Hernandez who won the G1 Apple Blossom, and Edgard Zayas who led all jockeys in wins for the week with eight.
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