Brothers and jockeys, Javier and Abel Castellano, competed against each other during Preakness weekend at Pimlico–they each won a pair, with the Maryland-based Abel also collecting a $75,000 stakes for Arabians. On Preakness Day, they talked with Sean Clancy about it all.

What’s it like to ride against each other?
Javier: “You’ve got to be competitive with each other. It’s a competitive sport, I’m rooting for my team. As soon as the gate opens, you forget about any relationship you have. I want to win.”
Abel: “You want to win. He wants to win. I want to win. That’s the bottom line. If I see him, I pass by and say, ‘Sorry, brother, but I’ve got to win the race too.’ That’s horse racing.”

Growing up, who was the troublemaker?
Abel: “I was the little one, I was the troublemaker.”
Javier: “He was, he really was. I’m not blaming myself.”

Why did you both become jockeys?
Javier: “Our dad was a jockey. That’s our hero. We looked up to him.”
Abel: “I said early, ‘Man, I want to be a jockey, like my brother did, like my daddy did. I wanted to be a jockey since I was a little kid. We’re blessed to be able to be jockeys, to be brothers.”
 
Who was the better student?
Abel: “I was the little brother, I was terrible.”
Javier: “I tried to be good, I wasn’t excellent, but I did okay.”

You’re on American Idol, who’s better?
Abel: “I am. Yeah, I am. I’m OK.”
Javier: “That question isn’t for me. I’m focused on riding, not singing.”

Who’s the better dancer?
Javier: “Me. I can dance, for sure.”
Abel: “Yeah, he can dance.”