Sonny Leon was preparing to spend a fourth straight summer riding at Gulfstream Park when his agent, Steve Worsley suggested he try something different. Worsley was certain Leon could have an impact at Monmouth Park instead.

“He was pushing me to come to Monmouth Park for the summer,” said Leon. “He thought it would be a great fit for me. He finally convinced me.”

The Kentucky Derby-winning jockey heads into the weekend at the Jersey Shore track in third place in the rider standings with eight wins, trailing only Samuel Marin (10 wins) and perennial champion Paco Lopez (21 wins).

Listed to ride in six of the nine races on Saturday’s card, Leon is looking to chip away at the seven wins he needs to reach 1,000 for his career.

“I know how close I am,” he said. “It will mean a lot to me to get to 1,000. It has been a big goal for me.

“I have 10 years riding in this country, so that averages out to almost 100 winners a year. I am very proud of that consistency.”

Leon, 35, will forever have that signature moment that stands out among those wins. His masterful ride aboard Rich Strike in the 2022 Kentucky Derby produced the second-largest win payout ($163.60) in the race’s storied history.

“People know that I won the Kentucky Derby everywhere I go now,” said Leon. “Before that I was riding mostly in Ohio. I was leading rider at Mahoning Valley for four years. But people in this business don’t take Ohio racing seriously.”

That Kentucky Derby win remains the only graded stakes race Leon has won in his career. He is hoping the move to Monmouth changes that.

Interestingly, Leon’s career-best season was the year before his Kentucky Derby win, when he won 226 races in 2021. He finished 11^th nationally in wins that year.

“I had just bought a house in Kentucky that year, so I was riding in Kentucky, mostly at Turfway Park, in Ohio and in Indiana,” he said. “I was focused to see how many races I could win that year. I worked hard for it to happen.”

A native of Aragua, Venezuela, Leon arrived at Monmouth Park in May off a solid meet at Tampa Bay Downs, where he finished fifth in the rider standings.

Among the horses he is listed to rider Saturday is the Jamie Ness-trained Central Casting in a $75,000 optional claimer. She has won two straight races and three of her last four.

“I didn’t know anything about the horse,” said Leon. “But Jamie Ness named me on her so I immediately looked at the Daily Racing Form to find out more about her. She looks like she will be one of the favorites.

“This is an opportunity for me to win a race for Jamie Ness, which is a big deal.”

As the summer progresses, Leon is keeping his expectations realistic.

“Like all riders I want to win the riding title wherever I go,” he said. “But I also just want to do my job and the thing I love most, which is riding horses. I’m happy with the way things are going. Paco has been riding at Monmouth Park for years and has the business. But I am happy with the way things are going for me.

“My goal every year is to win at least 100 races (he currently has 42 wins). That’s a good number. My hope is to keep winning so I can get closer to that by the time Monmouth Park meet ends.”