Corey Nakatani

Jockey Profile

Corey Nakatani

Corey Nakatani was born in Covina, California, United States on 21 October 1970.

Nakatani and his father visited Santa Anita, and he became fascinated with racing. He made inquiries about employment with trainer Roger Stein, who dutifully gave him the laborious task of cleaning stalls and exercising the horses. By the close of third day, Nakatani knew he was destined to be a jockey, in spite of the fact that he had never even ridden a horse before.

In order to gain a better understanding of horses and racing, Stein recommended that Nakatani find employment on an actual working farm. Agent Tony Matos gave him this opportunity on his Thoroughbred farm, and during this time, Nakatani diligently learned the ropes of a working farm. He was eventually given the responsibility to break and gallop horses for Johnny Longden and his son Eric Longden.

After graduating from jockey school in Castaic, California, he began racing at Caliente in Mexico, and in 1988 he won first race aboard Blue King in a dead heat, before moving to Southern California in 1989.

In 1991, he won his first Kentucky Oaks aboard Lite Light, and then again in 1996 aboard Pike Place Dancer.

His Breeders' Cup wins include the 1996 Distaff aboard Jewel Princess, the 1999 Mile aboard Silic (Fr) and the 2004 Juvenile Fillies aboard Sweet Catomine. He also seized three consecutive Breeders' Cup Sprints victories, aboard Lit de Justice in 1996, Elmhurst in 1997 and Reraise in 1998. In 2006 he once again took the title at the Sprint aboard Thor's Echo. These achievements rank him 8th in the Breeders' Cup earnings.

Memorial Day 2006, was to be exactly that for Nakatani, when he rode four winners at Hollywood Park and achieved his 3000th career win.

Corey Nakatani - Top 10 Notable Wins

1991 - Kentucky Oaks - Lite Light

1996 - Kentucky Oaks - Pike Place Dancer.

1996 - Breeders' Cup Distaff - Jewel Princess

1996 - Breeders' Cup Sprints - Lit de Justice

1997 - Breeders' Cup Sprints - Elmhurst

1998 - Breeders' Cup Sprints - Reraise

1999 - Breeders' Cup Mile - Silic (Fr)

2004 - Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies - Sweet Catomine

2005 - Canadian International Stakes - Relaxed Gesture

2006 - Breeders' Cup Sprints -Thor's Echo