Jockey Francisco Arrieta made a strong push in the final six weeks of the 62-day 2024-2025 Oak Lawn meet in Hot Springs, Arkansas, as he chased his second regional horse racing title. Known for raising his right arm and pointing his index finger skyward after each win, Arrieta frequently celebrated this way during the last 23 days of the meet, riding 41 winners and finishing with a leading 65 points. Two-time defending champion Cristian Torres followed closely behind with 62 wins.
Arrieta enjoyed 12 winning days in this stretch, highlighted by a career-best five wins on March 14th. Coming into that day with only 24 wins, he surged by winning 25% of his final 167 mounts, a feat attributed to a change in representation—from longtime agent Jay Fedor to Cody Autry, who also represents Torres. “Some days I’m up, and some days I’m down,” Arrieta reflected. “Thank God I was able to keep it going.”
He clinched the 2024-25 Oak Lawn meet by breaking a 62-62 tie with Torres—who was racing at Churchill Downs on May 3. Arrieta secured victory in the second race on Where’s Randy, took the fourth race on Darrow, and also won the 12th race. The day concluded with the 1 3/4 mile Trail’s End Marathon aboard Nepal Up.
The one disappointment for Arrieta on the final day was Mystic Dan, the 2024 Kentucky Derby winner, finishing second in the $200,000 Lake Ouachita Stakes for Older Horses (1 1/16 miles). Mystic Dan, whom Arrieta rode due to regular jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.’s Churchill Downs commitment, was narrowly beaten after a tough clash with Billionaire Grade 1 winner Saudi Clown. “I was a little sad when I came in second with the Derby winner,” Arrieta admitted, “but I was grateful for the chance to ride him and win.”
Arrieta’s notable moment with Mystic Dan came during a prestigious $500,000 G2 Lucas Classic at Churchill Downs on September 27, where he guided the horse to victory by three-quarters of a length over Diarm. This marked the richest win of Arrieta’s North American career since he began competing in the U.S. in 2012. “That was amazing—I wasn’t expecting it, but I took the chance and won,” he said.
Returning from the Churchill Downs Fall Tournament with seven wins, Arrieta is now represented by rookie agent Kevin Mayox, who recently started booking rides for him, including a mount at Gulfstream Park for Hall of Famer Javier Castellano. Mayox explained, “We’re just trying to get rides for everyone. All doors are open, and we’re trying to find the right horses.”
Since 2021, Arrieta has tallied 309 wins at Oak Lawn, after jockey Fedor Cold convinced riders to move their tack from the fairgrounds to Oak Lawn. After winning 50 races in 2021, Arrieta earned 62 wins in the 2021-2022 meet, sharing the title with David Cabrera. He now prepares to pursue a third Oaklawn Equestrian Championship as the 64-day split season kicks off.
“We’re working hard, meeting people, and letting them know we’re here,” Arrieta said. “We’re poised for success.” In a milestone moment, Arrieta hit his 1,000th North American win on December 28, 2024, at Oak Lawn.
This article was originally published by Paulick Report on December 11, 2025.
Fan Take: Francisco Arrieta’s relentless drive and recent success highlight the rising talent making waves in regional horse racing, showing how determination and smart choices can reshape a jockey’s career. For fans, his story adds excitement and anticipation for future meets, underscoring the competitive spirit that keeps the sport thrilling and alive.
