Ramos seeking first Indiana Derby title at Horseshoe Indianapolis

This year’s Indiana Derby comes full of familiar faces.

Most of the attention is going to be focused on the two Kentucky Derby alumni, Publisher and Coal Battle. But another alumni from the Kentucky Derby will be a part of the 31st renewal of the Hoosier state’s biggest race. Not a horse, but jockey Joseph Ramos who had his first Kentucky Derby mount this year on Flying Mohawk, one of multiple new personal highs for the two-time leading Horseshoe Indianapolis rider he has achieved in 2025.

The Kentucky Derby might be the ultimate goal for any jockey, but for Ramos, getting his first mount in the Indiana Derby on a local horse in Brotha Keny holds a special place in his heart. 

Ramos began his riding career in 2019 in his home territory of Puerto Rico, but from nearly the start Horseshoe Indianapolis was the destination he had his eyes after.

“When I was in Puerto Rico the agent that called me, his plan was to come to Indiana, but it was still winter, so Turfway was running. He called me and said, ‘You wanna get here before Indiana starts, so you ride at Turfway a little bit, go to Keeneland and you try to get some business so we can go to Indiana.’ But Indiana was always the first plan when I came to the states,” Ramos recalled.

His presence at the track was known immediately as he became Horseshoe Indianapolis’s leading apprentice jockey in 2019. By 2022, he then rose all the way to the top as the track’s leading jockey, clutching his first title on the very last day of the meet. 

“When I won my first award as a jockey here, I was just a kid riding Belterra driving back and forth working every single day," said Ramos. “And then my title as a professional rider was something that I wasn’t expecting at all to get. I was just working and getting my job done. It was an exciting moment because it was the very last day. I remember me and Marcelino (Pedroza Jr.) were tied. I was like three down and then I won four the last day and ended up winning by one. So, it was something I wasn’t expecting to be the leading rider. I was just working year by year. I wasn't really focused on a title. Not just looking to get an award or a trophy.”

The hard work and dedication only continued to bear fruit when he had a repeat the following year in 2023. But on Jan. 20, 2024, in Puerto Rico, one of the most important and scariest moments of Ramos’ life occurred when he lost control of his motorcycle, sustaining multiple head injuries including a brain bleed and hairline fractures to his skull. This brush with death not only changed his trajectory but his own personal attitude as a rider. 

“It’s something that God had for me. He had a plan for me, and everything is going the way He wanted it to be. He let me have that accident for some reason. I grew up. I stepped up. I made the comeback stronger than the setback,” Ramos said.

Ramos’ statement is well founded. He is currently the leading jockey at Horseshoe Indianapolis in 2025 and the only jockey to have earned over $1 million this season at the track.

Ramos (photo) has also expanded further, getting the chance to win his first Graded Stakes victories this year with Mercante in the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Classic, and Arlington Stakes. He also got his first Kentucky Derby mount with Flying Mohawk. And just two weeks ago, won the Ohio Derby on top of Mo Plex in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby.

While Derbies and success at Horseshoe Indianapolis are familiar to him, he’s never had the chance to put both together until now. He will ride his first ever Indiana Derby in this year's renewal on local longshot Brotha Keny.

“I feel blessed to be around all these nice horses and especially riding on the home (Indiana) Derby,” added Ramos. “It feels more exciting because this is home for me. All the people that are here on the ground they’ve known me since I was a bug boy. Since I was an apprentice rider they know how much I have worked for all of these, not just for the one race. It just feels amazing.”

His ticket to the Indiana Derby, Brotha Keny, is a $25,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase that started his career at Churchill Downs and Turfway Park. But after he migrated to Horseshoe Indianapolis, he has gone from a maiden in six races to having a two race winning streak.

Under Ramos’s guidance they have been an undefeated partnership although they are going to be jumping in way deeper waters trying Graded Stakes company for the first time. 

“I rode him twice and he won twice. I think he’s a very versatile horse,” noted Ramos. “The first time I rode him he was pretty close on the speed, and I mean he broke good. He had tactical speed, and he sat well for me. Second time I rode him he kind of broke slow. There was good pace on the front and I just let him find his stride and when I turned for home I asked him and he was there for me. So, I have faith in the horse. I think he can make it.”

The locals of Horseshoe Indianapolis who watch racing day in day out will be cheering on Ramos and Brotha Keny. Along with his talent Ramos has also been a great ambassador for the racetrack, going out of his way to engage with fans even while he’s not riding. As Horseshoe Indianapolis’s track announcer John Dooley recalls, he’s a fan favorite.

“Joe is a terrific ambassador for Horseshoe Indianapolis not only as a rider on the track, but between races Joe will take the time to meet and greet fans,” said Dooley, who is in his fourth year of calling races in Indiana. “There was one time I remember he started handing out lollipops between races when we had the time so he’s always one to engage the fans and stop to take a picture with fans that would love to meet him and talk about horse racing. A great ambassador for Horseshoe Indianapolis and a great rider too.”

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