On Thursday’s opening day, Eclipse Award-winning jockey Axel Concepción joined the 20-year-old native using colony through the 41-day summer season session of 2025. Concepcion, who received the photo voltaic eclipse because the nation’s high apprentice in 2023, has 18 mounts within the opening sport.
“It feels nice to be right here,” Concepcion mentioned. “I need to make the most of these alternatives that trainers are giving me. My objective is to win as many races as doable and attempt to win titles.”
As an apprentice, Concepcion received the Laurel Park using title. He’s properly versed in reference to the jockey colonies of Maryland, and locations him in a very good place to achieve the colonial.
“I’ve identified loads of these riders since my first 12 months primarily based within the Mid-Atlantic,” Concepcion mentioned. “I used to be using not solely Laurel, however Charlestown, Delaware Park and Monmouth. There are such a lot of good riders on the market. I am very blessed to compete with them. I have to know all of the riders within the race.
Concepción started the 12 months on the fairgrounds. There he completed in eighth place with 32 wins in his first assembly. After using Churchill Downs within the first month of the spring event, Concepcion adopted the chance the place his agent, Liz Morris, lined up for him at Monmouth Park. The Puerto Rican native made probably the most of them and received 4 stakes races, together with Pegasus, who rode a bracket buster from coach Vicki Oliver.
“We need to experience Oliver, Mike Tomilson, Keith Desormoe and others,” Morris mentioned. “We’re additionally seeking to proceed to succeed with different Kentucky trainers who transport a few of Axel’s East Coast connections, from when he was main the apprentice.”
In his third 12 months within the US, Concepcion received 16% of Mount, incomes $14 million with a complete of 329 wins.
“Axel is a proficient and promising rider,” Morris mentioned. “He has the innate means to place horses in nice positions to win races, and I’ve seen them many occasions now since I had his ebook.
Final 12 months, rookie Ben Curtis managed to win the Colonial Downs using title in his first event. Hungry to show himself, thanking each alternative he has been given, Concepcion seems poised to do the identical.
