Samuel Marin's total of 13 wins for the week included a stakes race victory on Saturday for red-hot trainer Mark Casse, three multiple win days and a win percentage of 43%. The panel of racing experts voted Marin Jockey of the Week for February 9-Febuary 15.
The weekly honor recognizes jockeys for significant riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild. Founded in 1940, the Guild represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
Marin started the race week on Wednesday at his winter base of Tampa Bay with a win in the first race for trainer Teresa Pompay. On Thursday, he added a win for trainer Miguel Clement in the 10th race. Those two wins were a prelude for Friday's five-win spree.
Marin wasted no time posting a win in the first race on Friday for trainer Jose D'Angelo then took the daily double with a win in the second race for trainer Arthur Agostini.
Trainer Derek Ryan and Marin teamed up for a win in the fourth race. Marin won the sixth race for trainer Miguel Clement and ended the day with a win in the eighth race for trainer Michael Dini. It was the second time this season Marin has posted a 5-win day.
Marin registered three wins on Saturday beginning with the fifth race for trainer Tom Proctor and the ninth race for trainer Jose Gallegos.
Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse gave a leg up to Marin on My Boy Prince, Canada's 2023 champion juvenile, in one of the day's two turf stakes races, the Turf Dash.
Breaking from post position two in the field of 12 as the 9-5 second choice, My Boy Prince raced inside in mid-pack saving ground. Entering the stretch the 5-year-old gelding launched his rally from the fence and got his head down at the wire to win by a neck in :55.44 for five furlongs over race favorite Rezasrolex piloted by Edgard Zayas.
Another three-win day on Sunday included the fourth race for trainer Victor Carrasco, Jr., the fifth race for Tom Proctor and the eighth race for Hall of Famer "Shug" McGaughey, III.
Defending his Tampa Bay leading rider title, Marin, 24, is a native of Venezuela, and has been riding in the United States since 2022. Known for his tireless work ethic, he is currently in first place in the standings with 81 wins well on his way to eclipsing Tampa's single season victory record of 147 set 11 years ago by Antonio Gallardo.
Marin rides primarily between Monmouth/Meadowlands and Tampa Bay and won his first career graded stakes races at Monmouth in 2025 aboard Surface to Air in the Monmouth Cup (G3) and Philip Iselin (G3). He won his first leading rider title at Meadowlands in 2024.
Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Stewart Elliott with a stakes win at Sam Houston, Manny Franco who also won 13 races including a six-win day on February 12 at Aqueduct, Tyler Gaffalione who swept the two three-year-old graded stakes races at Fair Grounds, and Edwin Maldonado who won the Sunland Park Derby.
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