Apprentice Chelsey Keiser Rides First Winner

Apprentice jockey Chelsey Keiser won for the first time when she guided Smileforthecamera to victory in today’s fourth race at Laurel Park.

On her first opportunity to ride Joan Everett’s $15,000 claimer, the 6-5 favorite, Keiser allowed Smileforthecamera to drop back to last before guiding him outside for a run at the leaders. The son of Eddington veered in but was able to avoid trouble and reached the front with a sixteenth of a mile to the finish line.

The Jason Egan trainee won by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:27.31 and paid $4.80 in the 7-furlong test.

“I am living the dream,” said an emotional Kesier. “I feel like all the hard work has paid off and I have to thank Joan Everett and Jason Egan for giving me the opportunity. I get a chance to gallop him (Smileforthecamera) in the morning and he can be a handful.”

The 21-year-old from Ohio was ambushed by her fellow riders on her walk back to the jockey’s quarters when she was greeted with a dousing of water and eggs, the traditional hazing after an apprentice breaks her maiden.

“My younger sister is here today so this is really exciting,” added Keiser. “It is all a rush right now. I know it is just a $15,000 claiming race but it means the world to me. I am looking forward to getting to Pimlico. Hopefully this is just a start of things to come.”

Keiser is the third bug rider to win her first career race at Laurel during the 2013 winter meeting, joining Natasha Coddington (February 9) and Mallory Standberg (March 22).

Apprentice riders Yomar Ortiz and Trevor McCarthy will finish 1-2 in the jockey standings in the 50-day stand that ends Saturday afternoon.