Angel Suarez

Born: April 9, 1993 | Birthplace: San Juan, Puerto Rico | Residence: Odessa, FL

First Win: Grady Times, Camarero, 2012 | Started Riding: 2012, Camarero Circuit: Tampa Bay Downs, Delaware Park, Monmouth Park, Laurel Park, Pimlico, Colonial Suarez experienced the exhilarating highs and devastating lows of his profession in a half-hour span on Dec. 26, 2020 at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. After piloting Pixelate to a stirring come-from-behind victory in the Woodchopper Stakes, Suarez was injured in the next race when the horse directly in front of him broke down, causing his mount to fall. Suarez suffered a broken left femur, sending him to the sidelines a month after beginning what he hoped would be a fruitful collaboration with top Fair Grounds trainer Michael Stidham. Although he found it difficult to watch races in the ensuing weeks, Suarez committed to an extensive regimen of physical therapy, and he was getting back on horses in four months, about three months sooner than originally predicted. Suarez managed to ride 51 winners over the final seven months of 2021 and had added 77 this year at press time. Suarez, who is engaged to fellow jockey Aubrie Green, finished fourth in the Delaware Park standings in 2022 with 47 winners. This is the second season at Tampa Bay Downs for Suarez, who finished fifth in 2019-2020 with 58 winners. He joined the ranks of graded stakes-winning jockeys in 2019, capturing the Grade III Monmouth Oaks aboard Horologist. Suarez, who won his first-ever race in 2012 on Grady Times at Camarero in Puerto Rico, was a finalist for an Eclipse Award that year as Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. He says he knew he was going to be a jockey when he was 14 and went to the racetrack with his mother and a friend. “You know how a kid sees a superhero movie and wants to be like that person? After that day, I wanted to put on the silks, wear the boots and go fast on horses,” Suarez said.