Apprentice Groth Scores in Fair Grounds Bow

Fair Grounds-based trainer Mike Stidham gave apprentice jockey Anthony Groth his first local opportunity in Saturday’s opener, and the 22-year-old responded by piloting Phillip Maas’ Whenthedealinsdone to a 6 1/2-length score.

“I used this jockey at Delaware Park a lot last summer,” said Stidham. “He’s a good little rider and he came to Hawthorne for us later in the fall after Delaware closed. He’ll ride some down here until Hawthorne re-opens and then he’ll go back to Chicago.”

Groth reiterated the influence Stidham has had on his fledgling career.

“I broke (Whenthedealisdone)’s maiden at Delaware (by nine lengths Oct. 17),” Groth explained. “I was riding there, and then I went to Maryland, and then back up to Chicago. When Chicago ended I came down here to gallop for Mr. Stidham so he helped me out.

“I never touched a horse until I was 18,” Groth said. “One day I was getting my hair cut in the barber shop and this trainer’s friend walked in. He gave me the phone number to Bonita Farm out in Maryland, and the next day I dropped out of the local community college to start hotwalking and grooming. That was in Bel Air, Maryland, where I grew up.

“I was 18 then and I’m 22 now (born May 27, 1987). I’ve been traveling around. I got to gallop for (Hall of Fame trainer) Bill Mott for a year in Florida and Saratoga, and then I went to Keeneland with Ronny Werner and galloped down here for Werner last year.”