At Saratoga, jockey Junior Alvarado notches milestone 1,000th victory

Jockey Junior Alvarado earned his 1,000th career victory in North America, winning the fourth race at Saratoga Race Course on Monday aboard Skerkis.

The 2-year-old colts drew off in the stretch to capture the $50,000 maiden claiming event by 8-1/4 lengths over Banker's Boss. The time for the six furlongs was 1:11.52.

Making his third lifetime start, Skerkis paid $11.80, $6.10 and $4.30 as the 9-2 fourth choice in a field of seven 2-year-olds.

The 28-year-old Alvarado began riding in his native Venezuela in 2005. He won his first race in the United States in 2007. A regular on the New York circuit since late 2010, he enjoyed the biggest victory of his career earlier in the meet at Saratoga, taking the $1.5 million Whitney Stakes on Moreno.