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Jockey Eddie Castro

Jockey Eddie Castro Hits 1000 Wins

Jockey Eddie Castro, who quickly gained the national spotlight when he won the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile aboard Miesque's Approval just a week and a half ago, reached a career milestone when he rode another longshot at Churchill Downs to notch career win number 1000. In his only mount on Wednesday afternoon, a $50,000 maiden claimer at 1 1/16 miles over a sloppy track through a steady rain, he settled 15-1 longest shot Jermidy just off the pace in fourth early, then took his mount four wide on the turn to run right by the pacesetters, pulling away to a 3 3/4 length win in 1:50.16. He said in the winner's circle on Wednesday, "It been good to stay here in Kentucky to ride at Churchill Downs and Keeneland. It's nice after having raced at Calder to do it here. I'm very happy to win my 1,000th race."

Miesque's Approval wins by 2 3/4 lengths at odds of 24-1 in the Mile.

The resident of Pembroke Pines, Florida was born on April 10, 1984 in Los Santos, Panama, riding saddle horses on his parents' produce farm. Watching fellow countryman Cornelio Velasquez, he entered the national racing school at the age of 15, winning his first race on December 6, 2002. Having won 36 races in his home country, he came to America in April 2003, starting at Gulfstream Park. Despite his late start that year he won enough races to earn that year's apprentice Eclipse.

Among his many accomplishments in Florida, he won the 2003 Eclipse Award as the country's top apprentice rider, won three Calder riding titles, and set a national record on June 4, 2005 when he booted home nine winners on a single card. This year he moved his tack to the tough Kentucky circuit for the summer months, and will return to Florida for the winter. His skills earned the respect of many top trainers, allowing him to ride such mounts as Pampered Princess, Cellars Shiraz, Hide and Chic, High Fly, Stay Forever, Super Frolic, and Revved Up. But in his brief career, Miesque's Approval has been his best mount so far, winning the Maker's Mark Mile (G2), Firecracker Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2), Red Bank Handicap (G3), and Sunshine Millions Turf, along with the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

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