Angel Cordero Jr. was born on November 8, 1942, in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He led the nation in wins in 1968, and was the top money winning jockey in 1976, 1982, and 1983. He won six Triple Crown races: the 1974 Kentucky Derby aboard Cannonade, the 1976 Preakness and Belmont aboard Bold Forbes, the 1980 Preakness aboard Codex, the 1984 Preakness aboard Gate Dancer, and the 1985 Kentuckey Derby aboard Spend a Buck. He was quoted in May, 1985 as saying (about Spend a Buck), "He's good enough for me. I won't say he's a superhorse because you're never a superhorse until you're retired. Any horse can be beaten on any given day."
Cordero had 4 winners in the Breeder's Cup racing, and 7 second places, and 7 third places in 48 starts. His victories came in the 1985 Distaff with Life's Magic, the 1988 Juvenile Fillies with Open Mind, the 1988 Sprint with Gulch, and the 1989 Sprint with Dancing Spree. Cordero's $6,020,000 in Breeder's Cup earnings is 7th best.
Cordero retired in 1992 after riding 7,057 winners, fourth all-time. He ranks sixth in winnings with $164,526,217.