From a NYRA release with additional information

Jockey Abnel Bocachica, who is currently third in the jockey standings at Charles Town with 31 wins, will look to make an impact on the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit where he will be represented by agent Shawn Klotz.

The 19-year-old native of Carolina, Puerto Rico is the son of Arnaldo Bocachica, who currently leads the Charles Town jockey standings with 46 wins. Abnel attended Puerto Rico’s famous Vocational Equestrian Agustín Mercado Reverón School, which has produced a number of top riders.

“He’s doing really well there and has his dad coaching him along and now it’s time to make it or break it,” Klotz said. “He’s really focused and a nice kid. He’s been doing really well at Charles Town and already won a lot of races there this year. He’s a five-pound bug until the beginning of September and can ride 109 pounds.”

Bocachica launched his riding career in May at Charles Town and picked up his first win in July at the West Virginia oval by guiding Hovel to victory in a seven-furlong claiming tilt. His mounts banked $503,505 through a record of 329-23-29-53 last year and he has already surpassed those totals this year with a ledger of 218-31-27-30 for purse earnings of $578,759.

Klotz said Bocachica has honed his skills riding the six-furlong dirt oval at Charles Town.

“He can finish really strong but he’s also really good out of the gate coming from Charles Town where you need to break going 4 1/2-furlongs and go. I think that will give him an advantage riding speed horses,” Klotz said.

Bocachica is the son of Charles Town’s leading rider, Arnaldo Bocachica. Among his top mounts are 4-for-5 Marshall Peanut, No Love for Juba, and Azzurra, each of which has earned at least $60,000 with Bocachica up. 

In 2024 Bocachica has won at a rate that’s 1.32 wins above expectations per 50 starts; that’s second among Charles Town riders with at least 100 starts at the track this season.

Bocachica is currently in New York working horses at Belmont Park.

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