Jorge Delgado

Born: April 27, 1990 | Birthplace: Maracaibo, Venezuela | Residence: Fort Lauderdale, FL

First Win: Saturado, Gulfstream Park, 2017 | Started Training: 2017, Gulfstream Park | Circuit: Tampa Bay Downs, Gulfstream Park, Mid-Atlantic From the time he began hanging around his father’s barn in Venezuela as a youngster, Delgado knew he wanted to be a trainer. “I’ve been in love with horses for as long as I can remember,” the younger Delgado said. “It’s basically been in my blood forever.” Delgado came to south Florida in 2012 to pursue his dream, and the results have been astounding. Before going out on his own, Delgado worked as an assistant under Juan Rodriguez, then continued his apprenticeship under his uncle Gustavo Delgado, a multiple Grade I-winning trainer. By 2017, Delgado had gained the know-how and experience to start winning races on his own. The 2022 campaign was a banner year, as he won Grade III stakes with Lightening Larry and Willy Boi, both Florida-breds owned by the Lea Farms, LLC stable of Bill Cosgrove. After winning the Grade III Smile Sprint Invitational at Gulfstream and finishing third in the Grade I Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga, Willy Boi went on to compete in the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland. Delgado also enjoyed outstanding success with 2-year-old Florida-bred colt Awesome Strong (4-for-4 after sweeping Gulfstream’s threerace Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes series) and 2-year-old colt Super Chow, who finished third in the Grade III Saratoga Special and first in the $200,000 Bowman Mill Stakes at Keeneland. Delgado will split his 49-horse stable between Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream, keeping about 15 in Oldsmar. Delgado prides himself on keeping the lines of communication with his owners open. “I thank each and every one of them for supporting me and trusting me with their investment. That is a key to my success,” he said. No one was more excited than his father last season when Delgado won seven races from 11 starts, with four seconds, during an Oldsmar hot streak that earned him the Trainer of the Month Award.