Manny Franco: What a Year!! How He Rose to Greatness | The Wizard's Crystal Ball

In 2025, Manny Franco won just 8.4% of his races. This year at Saratoga, he nearly doubled that stat, winning almost 20% of his mounts, bringing in $8.4 million in earnings across 370 rides. This episode of The Wizard's Crystal Ball breaks down exactly how that turnaround happened. Manny sits down with The Wizard to talk about his partnership with agent John Panagot, riding USS Valor to a dominant Champagne win for owner Barry Irwin and Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, and what it was like adjusting to the new Belmont Park. He opens up about his unforgettable six-win day on August 6th, winning the 2020 Belmont Stakes aboard Tiz the Law during the empty-grandstand COVID year, and his path from a shortstop in Carolina, Puerto Rico, idolizing Francisco Lindor, to the Hippodromo Camarero jockey school and New York's winner's circles. The two also talk about working alongside his father, a jockey valet at Belmont, raising his daughter, and his love of baseball, football, and bobbleheads. It's a candid, fun conversation with one of the hottest riders in the country right now. 🏇 Check out Wizard Race & Sports for horse racing picks, tools & more: 👉 https://wizardraceandsports.com/ 🎯 Want sports picks? Head over to Wizard Sports Picks: 👉 https://wizardsportspicks.com/ #HorseRacing #TheWizard #Jockey #Saratoga #Belmont