Juarez Gets First Preakness Ride on American Promise

For Nik Juarez, the Preakness entries next Saturday will be more than a career milestone, it will be a return to where American Promise’s journey in racing began. The 31-year-old Maryland native is set to ride American Promise in the biggest race in his home state, and it will be his first appearance in the event at Pimlico Race Course.

“It’s a dream come true for every rider to ride the Derby,” Juarez said. “For me, I’m super-excited to ride the Preakness Stakes, to be home at Old Hilltop, Pimlico, lots of good memories there. It’s another dream come true.”

Juarez, who grew up in Westminster just north of Baltimore, comes from a long-standing racing family. Though he began his career on the Maryland circuit, he has spent the past several years competing in New Jersey, Florida, and more recently, Arkansas during the winter meets.

His time in Arkansas proved to be a turning point. Juarez began riding for D. Wayne Lukas, the Hall of Fame trainer with seven Preakness entries wins to his name. That opportunity opened the door for Juarez to ride American Promise in the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs. The result was a commanding victory by 7¾ lengths, which led to Juarez being named the jockey for the Kentucky Derby.

Though American Promise finished 16th in the Derby, Juarez remains encouraged by the overall experience and the horse’s development.

“The Kentucky Derby was awesome,” Juarez said this week at Churchill Downs, where he’s currently riding. “Just being here in Louisville, being around ‘the coach,’ seeing him in his element. To be a part of his team was really amazing. And being represented by Gary Stevens, it was a dream come true.”

Gary Stevens, a Hall of Fame jockey himself, now works as Juarez’s agent. His guidance has played a key role in Juarez’s recent moves, including the shift to riding at Churchill Downs this spring. The transition has kept Juarez in a competitive environment ahead of the Preakness entries.

Juarez was able to reflect on the Derby, recognizing how tough the race was and the kind of competition that faced him.

“It was a bit of a dogfight,” he said. “We had Citizen Bull, who broke outward. Two horses inside were impeded. I had to make a trip for American Promise the best way I could. Luckily, getting into that first turn, it was where we wanted to be, and he was able to avoid most of that trouble.”

Despite the result, Juarez saw the race as a valuable experience for both himself and the horse. He emphasized American Promise’s strengths, particularly his size and speed, and the confidence gained from his earlier win in Virginia.

“American Promise was able to show us he has the speed, that size, and he really won going away at Colonial Downs,” Juarez said. “I just think he got a lot out of the [Derby], and he’s still American Promise.”

Juarez said the colt had a scheduled walk day on Wednesday and was set to resume training on Thursday. Preparations are in motion for shipping the horse to Baltimore in the coming days.

For Juarez, the Preakness entries is more than just another opportunity. It’s a return to familiar surroundings and a meaningful stage to compete on in front of his home crowd. Pimlico holds personal value, not just as a racetrack, but as the place where his early racing memories were made.

“Being back at Pimlico means everything,” he said. “It’s a place where I learned so much, where I’ve always wanted to ride the big one. “It just means a lot to be doing it now, with this horse and this team.”

The Preakness entries, the second leg of the Triple Crown, is regarded as a way to see if a horse is coming back to par after the Derby or if he builds on the previous momentum. Juarez and American Promise now have the chance to take some of their experiences from the Derby and race in the Preakness entries with a better understanding of what lies ahead.

While expectations remain measured, Juarez’s preparation and familiarity with his horse give him a sense of readiness heading into the race. It may be his first time riding in the Preakness entries, but with local ties, family support, and recent high-level experience, Juarez enters the weekend with purpose and poise.