David Cohen–who is enjoying a banner season after resuming his promising riding career following an injury-induced hiatus spanning almost four years–is the recipient of JockeyTalk360.com's Comeback Jockey of the Year Award, presented by Red Brand Fence.
Cohen will receive the award during the Jockeys' Guild Assembly luncheon Tuesday at Top Golf located adjacent to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Irad Ortiz will be honored as JockeyTalk360 Turf Jockey of the Year and Drayden Van Dyke will be recognized as JockeyTalk360 Breakthrough Jockey of the Year. The JockeyTalk360 awards are in addition to the honors handed out at the luncheon by the Jockeys' Guild at their annual assembly.
The 34-year-old Cohen has won 109 races and almost $6.5 million in 2018 purse earnings through Friday, according to Equibase statistics, including taking the GII Hill Prince on Have At It (Kitten's Joy) and the GIII Matron on Lonely Road (Quality Road).
Cohen was among the sport's rising stars when he was kicked in his lower right leg by his mount in the paddock at Aqueduct Feb. 1, 2014. His badly fractured fibula and tibia required surgery involving a plate and six screws to repair.
“It was never a matter of 'if' but a matter of 'when' I was going to return,” Cohen said. “If you're not right mentally, it's going to show. I wouldn't do that to people trusting me with the horses and giving me an opportunity if I wasn't 100% ready, not just physically but the mental state as well. It was just wanting to do it the right way.”
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