Pablo Morales

Born: September 5, 1988 | Birthplace: Lima, Peru | Residence: Tampa, FL

First Win: Alena’s Boy, Gulfstream Park, 2005 | Started Riding: 2004, Monterrico, Peru

Circuit: Tampa Bay Downs, Presque Isle Downs

In recent seasons, Morales has made the most of his opportunities while winning new converts among owners, trainers and fans who rely on his intelligence, experience and strong finishing kick. As he approaches 2,500 career victories, he appears well-positioned to capture his first Oldsmar riding title after a second-place finish in 2021-2022 with 71 victories. Following that performance, Morales again dominated his competition at Presque Isle Downs, where he won his eighth title (and third in a row) with 134 winners. He found time in July to head north of the border, capturing his third career graded-stakes victory with an impeccable ride on trainer Wesley Ward’s 8-year-old Bound for Nowhere in the Grade II Highlander Stakes at Woodbine. Morales thrilled his family and friends on June 24, 2020 at Tampa Bay Downs, riding career winner No. 2,000 aboard Sanguine.

On May 4, 2019 (Kentucky Derby Day), Morales had an afternoon Tampa Bay Downs fans will be talking about for years to come. He was a perfect 5-for-5, including victories in the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Silver Charm Florida Sire Stakes on Jackson and the FTBOA Ivanavinalot Stakes on Wildwood’s Beauty. Earlier in that meeting, he won the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes for Triple Crown hopefuls on Well Defined for trainer Kathleen O’Connell. Morales rode 200 or more winners in three successive years from 2017-2019. He entered the current meet with 193 winners in 2022. Morales earned his first North American victory at Gulfstream Park in 2005 before his 17th birthday; that same year, just after turning 17, he captured the Grade II, $750,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs aboard The Daddy. One of several jockeys from Peru to ride at Oldsmar in recent years, Morales attended the same jockey school as Hall of Fame member Edgar Prado, Rafael Bejarano and Fernando De La Cruz.