Jose H. Delgado

Born: December 22, 1978 | Birthplace: Panama City, Panama | Residence: Oceanport, NJ

First Win: 2017, I’m Thirsty, Monmouth Park | Started Training: 2017, Gulfstream Park | Circuit: Tampa Bay Downs, Monmouth Park

On Feb. 24, 2021, Delgado sent out his 7-year-old gelding The Critical Way to win the 5-furlong Turf Dash Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. As the year progressed, the Pennsylvania-bred emerged as one of the top male turf sprinters in the country, winning the Wolf Hill Stakes on July 17 at Monmouth Park and the Grade III Parx Dash on Aug. 31 at Parx Racing. The Critical Way’s accomplishments helped his conditioner gain deserved attention on Thoroughbred racing’s national radar. The Critical Way was still going strong as an 8-year-old, winning the Get Serious Stakes in May at Monmouth Park to boost his career earnings above $600,000. Delgado finished second in the 2020-2021 Tampa Bay Downs trainer standings to perennial champion Gerald Bennett with 34 victories and added 12 winners here last season. He has posted back-to-back fourth-place finishes at Monmouth. About 20 years ago, when he was a jockey, Delgado moved his tack to Saudi Arabia, where he rode for four months. Before retiring from race-riding in 2014, he rode more than 300 winners, One of his top mounts was Wicapi, who won the 1996 Thanksgiving Day Handicap and 1996 Flying Pidgeon Handicap at Calder. Delgado also rode in Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan and Delaware.