Yedsit Hazlewood, a 17-year-old apprentice jockey, is settling into Laurel Park with the help of trainer Jose Corrales. Last weekend, the young rider earned his first five mounts from Corrales and finished third in his debut on Friday, March 21. Hazlewood has been riding horses in Panama since he was 12 and has always dreamed of becoming a jockey. His brother, Angel A. Rodriguez, also is a jockey and has made nearly 2,000 starts in the United States. “My brother is an idol to me,” Hazlewood said through Corrales. “Ever since I was little, I’ve loved the horses.” Corrales is close with Hazlewood’s family in Panama, which is how he first learned about the young jockey. After arranging for Hazlewood to come to the United States, Corrales sent him to Fair Hill Training Center to work as an exercise rider. When Hazlewood turned 17 earlier this month, Corrales began preparing him for mounts at Laurel. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. “There are few people where you can say that they have talent in this business right away,” Corrales said. “I put him to breeze horses and gallop horses, and this kid came around right away.” Hazlewood said that he needed to adjust to riding in the United States. In Panama, they often ride horses bareback. Working at Fair Hill taught him about responsibility in the saddle, but he hasn’t quite acclimated to everything yet. “Here, it’s cold,” he said. Hazlewood rode 4-year-old filly Just the Thing in his debut on Friday and finished third in a $10,000 claiming race. He rode for Corrales in four more races over the course of the weekend. Corrales is confident that Hazlewood’s first victory is coming soon. In time, success on the track will make it easier for him to find mounts outside Corrales’s barn. The young rider and trainer are entered together in seven races at Laurel this weekend. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.