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‘No Words To Describe It’: Apprentice Jonathan Santos Wins First Race
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- ‘No Words To Describe It’: Apprentice Jonathan Santos Wins First Race
‘No Words To Describe It’: Apprentice Jonathan Santos Wins First Race
Apprentice jockey Jonathan Santos added some unscheduled early fireworks to Friday's opening day of the fall Sunshine Meet at Gulfstream Park.
Chuncho Bravo Stable & Farm's 3-year-old gelding Bleu Martini, owned and trained by Javier Morzan, took the lead after a half-mile and kept Don't Go Astray at bay late to win Race 2 and give the 26-year-old native of Puerto Rico his first career riding victory.
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Bleu Martini ($32.80) covered a muddy and sealed main track in 1:18.30 to win the claiming event for maidens 3 and up by 1 ½ lengths. Third after an opening quarter-mile in 22.36 seconds, Maryland-bred Bleu Martini wrested the lead away from Cadenced following a 45.35 half and closed strongly to graduate in his 12th start and first with Santos aboard. Ironically, Santos had ridden Don't Go Astray in his prior race.
"When I was warming up, I could feel it. Once he got the spot to go, he ran off and just took me to the wire," Santos said. "It's amazing. No words to describe it. We've been working hard for this."
Santos made his professional debut July 18 at Gulfstream aboard Clifton Christie-trained Last Shall B First. He had three seconds and two thirds in 27 mounts during the Royal Palm Meet, and scored with his first ride of the Sunshine Meet.
"I don't have any family in the horse business. This is something I just started about three years ago and we've been working toward this," he said. "We've just been here, working hard."
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Riding with a 10-pound weight allowance, Santos got started riding horses in the morning for various trainers before launching his career this summer. He was doused with the traditional shower of water and baby powder upon returning to the jockeys' room.
"I used to gallop for Mike Maker, Jose D'Angelo, Mark Casse – all of those trainers," Santos said. "I learned a lot from them, and now we're here proving it."
Santos' agent is Edgar Prado, the retired Hall of Famer that won riding titles at Gulfstream's prestigious Championship Meet in 2002 and 2005 and is one of just nine jockeys with 7,000 or more career wins (7,119).
"Thanks to Prado," Santos said. "He pushes me."
This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Sep 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
