OCEANPORT – Apprentice jockey Jonathan Zayas captured his first career win by taking Monmouth Park’s fourth race on Saturday, Aug. 24, atop Saint Goldie Locs.
“It’s thrilling,” said Zayas following his first winner’s circle photo. “My father was a jockey and I’ve been around this my whole life.”
While up on the early pace, Saint Goldie Locs and Zayas asserted their authority, turning for home and opening up to a convincing 5 ¾-length victory, going six furlongs in 1:12 flat. They returned $15.40 in the field of seven fillies.
A 20-year-old native of Puerto Rico, Zayas moved to New Jersey when he was 8 years old. He is a graduate of Monmouth Regional High School in Tinton Falls.
Saint Goldie Locs, trained by Juan Serey, was Zayas’s third career mount. Hall of Fame jockey Jorge Velasquez is Zayas’s agent.
