The record will show that the final victory as an apprentice for jockey Jessica Pyfer was on 50-1 long shot Primer Dimer in Saturday's third race at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.
The record will not show the joyful enthusiasm the 23-year-old college graduate and law school candidate exhibited after the win. It will not show the delight of those who were rewarded at $103.40 for a $2 win bet, or the satisfaction for owners Autum Breeze Stables and trainer T.R. Bell II — even though Bell said he was the only one from the contingent to not bet on the 3-year-old, California-bred son of Haynesfield.
But, off-the-record, those emotions were clearly evident.
Primer Dimer hadn't finished higher than fifth and was beaten 30 lengths in the most recent of two career starts, making the dismissal by the betting public understandable when the field went to the post for the $20,000 maiden claimer.
“Tom (Bell II) told me before the race the horse has trouble breathing and I needed to get him to relax so he would take his big breath,” Pyfer said. “He actually broke better than I expected and we were in a good position (sixth, six lengths back) down the backstretch. Down the backside, I felt him take this huge breath and relax and it was the best feeling.”
They had to go five wide on the turn for home, but were making progress.
“He started grinding, but I didn't think we were going to get there,” Pyfer said. “Then Flavien (Prat on Funkenstein) came up on my inside and my horse was like 'Oh, we're supposed to run.' Once he saw that other horse he kind of did it himself and then, at the end, I just tried to make him fight a little bit more.”
Primer Dimer bested 2-1 Funkenstein by a half-length at the finish to give Pyfer career win No. 74 from 648 mounts with purse earnings of more than $3.2 million during a year-long term of apprentice status that ended Saturday. In 11 months of riding with the five-pound allowance, Pyfer had 56 wins from 535 starts and purse earnings of more than $2.7 million, which puts her at No. 100 on the Equibase jockey list based on money won.
It's always a career crossroads and uncertain circumstances follow when a jockey loses the “bug” and no longer gets a weight break competing against more experienced fellow riders.
But Bell finds reasons for optimism in Pyfer's case.
“Before the race, I wished her luck after losing the bug, the five pounds,” Bell related. “I said she'd probably be just fine because people like her and people like the way she rides. She's got great hands. She doesn't fight a horse, she stays out of their way and keeps them calm and relaxed. She can get them to settle and then finish with a run. That's what she did today and it worked out very well.”
The post Pyfer Gets Last Victory As Apprentice Aboard Primer Dimer At Del Mar appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
