Jose Gutierrez wins Juan Saez Leading Apprentice Award at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Jose Gutierrez may have started off the season slower than normal, but he finished with a bang to earn the 12^th Juan Saez Leading Apprentice Award Thursday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Gutierrez won 46 races over the 117-day Thoroughbred racing season and completed the meet ranked in the top 10 among all jockeys.

“It feels amazing to win this title,” noted Gutierrez in a winner’s circle presentation during closing day. “I am so happy and so thankful for everyone who helped me. I’m thankful for Genaro (Garcia) and Cipriano (Contreras) and John (Haran) who put me on a lot of winners. It’s been a fun year, and I thank trainer Aaron Shorter for putting me on my first winner (last December at Oaklawn Park aboard Charlina).”

A native of Guatemala, Gutierrez took his time in his quest to be a jockey. He served as an exercise rider for a few years before taking out his license last year and beginning his career as a jockey. To date, he has 50 career wins with more than $1.3 million in purse earnings -- $1.1 million of which was earned during the 2025 season at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Gutierrez will stay locally during the off season and plans to return to Horseshoe Indianapolis in 2026 when action resumes in April.

“I plan to ride at Turfway this winter,” added Gutierrez.

The Juan Saez Leading Apprentice Award was implemented in 2014 following the passing of Juan Saez from a racing incident. The Panamanian-born jockey was the leading apprentice jockey from that season.

Gutierrez becomes the 14^th recipient of the award as two years have had ties for the top apprentice jockey, 2019 (Joe Ramos, Kendall Sterritt) and 2023 (Hannah Leahey, McKenna Anderson). Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing and Chris Polzin, director of racing made the winner’s circle presentation to Gutierrez.

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