It’s debut time in the United States for Uruguayan jockey Héctor Lazo
- Turf Diario
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
A multiple leading rider at Maroñas, Héctor Lazo is set to make his U.S. debut aboard Rambo Approved in Friday’s ninth race at Keeneland for trainer Ignacio Correas
LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special to Turf Diario) – The long-awaited moment has finally arrived for Héctor Lazo, as the Uruguayan jockey is set to make his official debut before the American racing public—and the world—this Friday at Keeneland, one of the sport’s most iconic venues.
His introduction to U.S. racing will have a distinctly South American flavor. He’ll be aboard fellow Uruguayan-bred Rambo Approved, who is trained by Ignacio Correas IV, an Argentine native, and carries the colors of Brownwood Farm, the American arm of Haras Phillipson, the Brazilian breeding and racing operation founded by Benjamin Steinbruch.
A dominant force at Maroñas, where he claimed the last eight riding titles and surpassed the 1,000-win mark shortly before heading north, Lazo embarks on his first international campaign, which, for now, is expected to last only a few months—though its duration may well depend on early results.
Lazo’s first U.S. mount will come in Friday’s ninth race at Keeneland, a $100,000 allowance optional claimer offering a total purse of $140,000. The 1 1/8-mile dirt test has drawn a field of nine, and Rambo Approved is listed at 20-1 on the morning line.
A son of T.H. Approval, Rambo Approved will be making his first start for Correas after previously being conditioned by Paulo Lobo. The 2023 G1 Gran Premio Jockey Club winner at Maroñas broke his maiden at first asking at Horseshoe Indianapolis, before finishing seventh at Keeneland in October of last year.
The task ahead will be a stiff one. Unmatched Wisdom (Cairo Prince), trained by Chad Brown for Klaravich Stables, looms as the heavy favorite. A winner of his first three starts, including the Listed Curlin S., he later finished seventh in the G1 Travers S. and fifth in the G1 Pennsylvania Derby, last seen in September.
Lazo was also named on Sambalover (Distorted Humor), another Brownwood Farm runner trained by Correas and entered in Friday’s tenth race at Laurel Park, but the jockey will not be taking that mount.
