Veteran jockey Francisco Torres recorded his 2,000th career North American victory on Friday when he guided Sammie Sam to a 4 1/4-length win in the $99,000 J. Archie Sebastien Memorial Stakes at Evangeline Downs.

Sammie Sam stalked the pace from third under Torres, surged to the lead from three wide on the far turn, and drove clear as the 1.70-to-1 favorite to secure the milestone win for Torres.

Torres has won 12 graded stakes during his career, including victories at Keeneland Race Course, Churchill Downs, Turfway Park, Ellis Park, Gulfstream Park, Arlington Park, Hawthorne Race Course, and Ak-Sar-Ben.

Torres won the 1996 Stephen Foster Handicap (G2) on Tenants Harbor and earned his most lucrative career victory aboard Globalize in the 2000 Turfway Spiral Stakes (G2).