Apprentice Osman Collects First Win

Apprentice jockey Mohamed Osman guided Princess Beau K to victory in today’s second race and in doing so captured his first lifetime win.

Osman sent the $5,000 claimer to the front before relinquishing the lead a furlong from home. Princess Beau K fought back, however, and retook the top spot closing in on the finish line to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Friendly Princess in 1:30.51 over the muddy going.

“I am feeling great,” said Osman, a 33-year-old native of Somalia. “I was relaxed when the other horse came up to us and I just rode her with confidence.”

It was the first on the board finish in 24 career mounts for the former hotel manager.

“I have wanted to be a rider since I was 28,” added Osman. “It took me this long to get where I wanted to be. In 2011, I quit my job and went to South Carolina to learn how to break babies and have been galloping at Pimlico and Bowie since. I just love the horse.”

Charlie Williams trains Princess Beau K, who was scoring for the sixth time in 51 lifetime starts. The daughter of Here’s Zealous paid $35.80.

RUSSELL OUT AT LEAST A WEEK WITH FRACTURED RIB

Jockey Sheldon Russell will be out at least a week after fracturing a rib while snowboarding Saturday night.

“I could not find the brakes on the snowboard,” Russell said. “I worked three horses yesterday morning but knew something wasn’t right. Hopefully it is just a week.”

In the first five live racing days of 2014, Russell and apprentice riders Victor Carrasco and Trevor McCarthy had combined to win more than half (23-of-45) of the races during the winter meet.

“Not the best time for this to happen. He was off to a great start,” said Marty Leonard, Russell’s agent.  “But it could have been much worse, so we lucked out. Sheldon always comes back strong, though.”

Russell has been injured frequently throughout his career:

·        July 2013, Torn left bicep                                              missed three months

·        November 2010, Broken ribs and punctured lungs         missed two months

·        March 2008, Fractured vertebrae and broken wrist        missed four months

·        October 2007, Fractured vertebrae                                missed four months

Since arriving in Maryland in the fall of 2007, no rider has won more races at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course than the 26-year-old (541), who was the state’s leading rider in 2011 and finished second the last two years.