Jose Batista

Born: February 6, 1997 | Birthplace: Chepo, Panama | Residence: Tampa, FL

First Win: Mejorana, Hipodromo Presidente Remon, Panama, 2014 | Started Riding: 2014, Hipodromo Presidente Remon, Panama Circuit: Tampa Bay Downs, Monmouth Park, Gulfstream Park

The soft-spoken youngster hopes a return to Oldsmar will enable him to regain his momentum after fracturing his heel and ankle in a fall in early July at Monmouth Park. Batista was sidelined almost four months before returning in late October at Gulfstream Park. Batista finished sixth at Tampa Bay Downs last season with 39 victories. Trainer Juan Arriagada believes Batista has all the tools needed for success. “He breaks sharp from the gate, he puts horses in the right spot and then. …forget it. It’s amazing to me how many of my horses feel good with him riding them.” Batista is a graduate of the Laffit Pincay Jr. Technical Jockey Training Academy in Panama, where he began his career. He started dreaming the dream when he was 13 and an uncle took him to the Presidente Remon Racetrack, which was about a 4-hour drive from their hometown. Batista was captivated by the Thoroughbreds and the sport and set his sights on becoming part of it. He was victorious in the first race he ever rode, in 2014 at Hipodromo Presidente Remon aboard Mejorana. Batista began his stateside career in 2017 at Gulfstream. In 2018, he won the Grade II Gulfstream Park Hardacre Mile Stakes on Conquest Big E. Batista considers Irad Ortiz, Jr., considered by many to be the best jockey in the sport, as a role model.