Even though he had just reached the age of 17 last March, a reserved, soft-spoken youth from Panama, weighing a mere 107 pounds, carried the heavy expectation of being recognized with an Eclipse Award right from his debut.
Approximately a year ago, when Yedsit Hazlewood’s sister, Daybellis, forwarded Jose Corrales a video of her brother riding horses, the former jockey, now a trainer, immediately perceived immense potential in his fellow Panamanian. Corrales, who has previously guided other apprentice jockeys to Eclipse Award victories, made what others might consider an audacious prediction: that Hazlewood would secure the most coveted honor for emerging riders.
After Hazlewood achieved victory in his very first race at the Laffit Pincay Jr. Technical Jockey Training Academy, Corrales shared the footage with both Pincay, the school’s namesake, and legendary Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero. Both expressed considerable excitement regarding the rider’s capabilities and future prospects.
A strategy was formulated to bring Hazlewood to the United States subsequent to his graduation from the academy. Corrales would assume legal guardianship. He would rent accommodation with Maryland Jockey Club paddock official Mario Verge. His approach would be to ride every contest as if it were a $5,000 claiming event. The foretelling of a potential Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice would consistently loom for Hazlewood, even though he possessed no genuine understanding of what it implied to emulate the careers of figures like Chris McCarron and Kent Desormeaux. He was slated to share a jockey’s changing room with past Eclipse laureates, including Alberto Delgado, who won in 1982, and the 2013 recipient, Victor Carrasco.
Just two days after his seventeenth birthday, Hazlewood competed in his initial race in America, yet it required another thirteen attempts before Addy’s Laddy T N T delivered his maiden triumph on April 4 at Laurel Park. From that point, victories and the mentorship from Corrales rapidly accrued for Hazlewood. He had amassed 22 wins when a severe automobile collision imperiled his life and his ambition, forcing him to the sidelines for over two months. His representative, John DiNatale, recalled that it was a profoundly challenging period for someone so young. DiNatale remarked, “I think it served as a wake-up call for him, making him realize what he could have lost and almost did.”
Corrales engaged in self-reflection on his own spiritual beliefs while observing his protégé’s recuperation from the critical accident. Corrales stated, “My belief in God is so strong, and I thought, you know, perhaps this is a divine test to see if he can make a return. I mean, to recover after such an accident, he truly should have been dead, absolutely dead. And to be able to come back and achieve so many wins and such success in this short timeframe is nothing short of a miracle.”
Despite his inherent skill in riding horses, Hazlewood still occasionally grapples with feelings of isolation due to his English proficiency not being as advanced as he desires. He is actively learning, but often simply responds with a smiling “Digame.”
Hazlewood has chosen to delegate responsibilities to DiNatale, allowing his fierce competitive drive atop a Thoroughbred to communicate for him. This requires no linguistic interpretation.
He fully resumed riding just in time for the 2025 Maryland State Fair Meet at Timonium, where he impressively collected 13 wins at a 39% success rate, securing his inaugural riding championship. Hazlewood was indeed fulfilling the prophecy spoken by Corrales, the insightful mentor, yet the lost time in competition and the restrictions preventing him from riding in certain jurisdictions because he had not yet turned 18, made every three- and four-win day feel like an arduous struggle.
The inability to compete at multiple venues—for instance, riding on the Mid-Atlantic circuit during the day and then securing additional mounts across the state line at Charles Town Races at night—necessitated Hazlewood and DiNatale to accumulate extensive mileage on their vehicles, seeking race opportunities from Colonial Downs in Virginia all the way to Aqueduct in New York. The relentless daily regimen of rising early to exercise horses and cultivate relationships with trainers, followed by sessions in the jockey’s room fitness area, participating in 8-10 races each day, and then recommencing the entire process, can foster a sense of solitude for any jockey, let alone a seventeen-year-old.
“My family has provided me with absolute support. Most of the time, I am with them,” Hazlewood conveyed. Portions of his family reside in the U.S., but are located nearly two hours away. “However, this is my chosen profession, it is what I have envisioned, and if I aspire to achieve success in life, one must act independently.”
Hazlewood’s ambition to become a jockey has been present since he was ten. His brother is currently a jockey, and his uncle had been a trainer. When presented with the option of jockeys to admire and imitate, Hazlewood did not choose a famous or legendary figure. Hazlewood stated, “My favorite jockey is my brother, Angel Rodriguez. I consistently aim to ride like him and continually improve. We utilize identical saddles, virtually everything. I’ve always aspired to ride like him.”
While external observers might believe Hazlewood possesses the drive and innate ability to develop into an outstanding jockey, it is a journey that a teenager cannot undertake without assistance. Corrales continues to work as a full-time trainer and is committed to his family. DiNatale engages with Hazlewood in the mornings, arranging exercise rides, race opportunities, travel logistics, and licensing, yet his capacity to help has its limits. Even though a significant portion of Hazlewood’s family has relocated nearby and strives to provide optimal support, there are still aspects he must navigate independently. It is during these times that Hazlewood relies on an alternative network of kinship: his fellow jockeys.
“The truth is that most of them, José Torrealba, Mychel Sánchez, have consistently offered their support. They have provided me with counsel, including Angel Cruz, Julio Hernández, Víctor Carrasco,” Hazlewood recounted, reflecting on the solidarity among the jockey communities he moves between. “They have always stood by me and communicated realities as they are.”
The moment Hazlewood secures his riding helmet, a profound shift in mindset occurs. At numerous other times, he remains simply a child. He yearns to play FIFA Futbol 2026 and has not yet experienced the burden of managing finances, purchasing real estate, or any of the genuine illustrations of “adulting” that typically intimidate most individuals. He desires to laugh, find a romantic interest, and listen to Myke Towers’ song “Lo Logre.” However, once the riding helmet is in place, he clears his mind and becomes entirely focused on business.
Hazlewood is dedicated to competing in every race, exactly as Corrales has instructed him. As anticipated, victories have accumulated, garnering sufficient recognition to enable him to compete alongside the world’s elite jockeys. During his inaugural visit to Aqueduct, he emerged victorious in a race, surpassing esteemed riders like Jose Lezcano and Jaime Rodriguez.
The inherent contradiction of not primarily riding to secure a win, but rather to deliver the finest possible performance and allow victories to naturally manifest, all while simultaneously striving for the Eclipse Award, demands a significant degree of conviction.
“Ever since I arrived here, José Corrales has consistently assured me that with God’s assistance, we will reach significant accomplishments,” Hazlewood stated. “My objective has always been to win the Eclipse and attain prominent positions like Saratoga.”
Hazlewood was performing admirably as an apprentice rider, but Pietro Moran in Canada held a definitive advantage in both wins and total purse earnings. It appeared that the two-month hiatus from competition due to injuries sustained when his car overturned in an incident returning from New York might be the critical factor determining his chances at the Eclipse Award.
Then, October brought about a turning point. It commenced on Maryland Million Day at Laurel Park. Hazlewood triumphed in five stakes or handicap races that day, demonstrating an elevated level of riding prowess. Starting October 31st, the young Panamanian embarked on the kind of sustained success streak that most professional athletes only dream of. He competed for 23 consecutive days at Laurel, securing at least one victory each day. Hazlewood carried this formidable momentum into December.
On December 1st, Pietro Moran held a 35-win lead over Hazlewood. Even with severe weather conditions compelling track closures across the Mid-Atlantic, Hazlewood managed to ride on 23 days before New Year’s Eve. He competed at Laurel, Parx Racing, and Aqueduct, achieving wins on 18 of the days he rode. The 35 victories Hazlewood secured in December brought him within three wins of Moran, accomplished with 270 fewer mounts. Based solely on performance, Hazlewood, Corrales, and DiNatale all concurred that Hazlewood had demonstrated sufficient merit. Throughout the jockey’s changing area, the consensus was unanimous: “If Yedsit fails to win, it is an injustice.” When the nominees for the outstanding apprentice award were announced, there were no surprises—Chris Elliott and Moran, both offspring of professional jockeys, were named alongside Hazlewood. The period of anticipation then began.
Hazlewood traveled to Florida earlier than planned with his family and fellow Panamanian jockey Angel Morales. He was able to experience childhood for a brief period, visiting Disney World, before needing to assume an adult role for an evening at the lavish, opulent venue, The Breakers, in Palm Beach, for the Eclipse Awards ceremony. Dressed in a brown tuxedo, a gold wristwatch, and a bow tie as loosely tied as one might expect on a seventeen-year-old, Hazlewood circulated through the gathering, shaking hands with many who could become future employers, all while filled with the anticipation and hope of receiving an award within minutes.
Hazlewood did not endure a lengthy wait for the outstanding apprentice category to be presented. As the résumés of Elliott, Moran, and Hazlewood were projected onto the screens in the room, Hazlewood was displayed as having accumulated only 105 victories for the year. Apparently, early December annual totals had been distributed, and voters were required to independently verify year-end figures. While the full ramifications of this had not yet registered, DiNatale and Corrales, quite literally, observed the clear indication of what was to come—the thirty-five victories from December were effectively disregarded, the two months lost due to a violent car accident proved decisive, and Pietro Moran would be the recipient of the Eclipse Award.
Corrales was seated beside Hazlewood at the rear of the room at Table 31. As they observed Moran accepting the honor, Corrales elucidated the circumstances. They composed themselves and proceeded across the room to Moran’s table, where Hazlewood extended his congratulations for the award. Hazlewood then returned to his own table, where the seating arrangements had undergone an impromptu alteration. He positioned himself next to his mother, Yitzelka, posed for several photographs, and watched the remainder of the industry, a distinct community he yearns to join, celebrate their accomplishments.
Hazlewood did not allow the disappointment of the loss to impede his progress. He immediately recommenced his work. As of March 5th, he holds the third national rank for wins among jockeys. He will reach his eighteenth birthday in a few weeks, and due to the accident that impacted his 2025 season, Hazlewood will retain eligibility until mid-June to potentially compete again as a contender for the outstanding apprentice award in 2026.
