Emily Fewster, a jockey who rode 40 winners between 2004 and 2009, had her first mount in more than 11 years aboard Justin Nixon owned-and-trained gelding I Idolize You in Friday's seventh race at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.
I Idolize You, making his fifth start this year but first since Feb. 29, pressed eventual runner-up The Forty Factor through a quarter-mile in 23.07 seconds before dropping back and finishing last of seven as Smokin Hot Factor rallied to give trainer Kieron Magee his first win of the summer meet in the six-furlong waiver maiden claimer for 3-year-olds and up.
Born in Korea but raised in Maryland, the 33-year-old Fewster first began riding at the age of 5, showed and broke horses and schooled timber horses before turning pro Jan. 31, 2004 at Fair Grounds. Last a winner on Aug. 21, 2008, she hadn't ridden in a race since Jan. 22, 2009 – both at Laurel Park.
Fewster began galloping on a farm at 13 and later galloped for late Maryland training legend Dickie Small before moving to New Orleans, where she got a job working for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. She rode her first winner Feb. 22, 2004, at Fair Grounds with Princessofthebayou, owned and trained by Donald Moran Sr.
In addition to Fair Grounds, Fewster also rode at Evangeline Downs, Yavapai Downs and Sam Houston during her rookie season before making Maryland her primary base in 2005. She also competed at tracks such as Colonial Downs, Delaware Park and Philadelphia Park and won the 2007 John Henry Stakes aboard Dubai Cat at The Meadowlands.
Currently, Fewster works as the main stable rider for Nixon's Laurel-based string in the morning, and he said the mount was a reward for her hard work and dedication.
“She joined the team in December when we came back down from Woodbine. She's been a real asset to the team,” Nixon said. “She gets on him in the morning, does a great job, so she deserved a shot here in the afternoon.
“She's dedicated to all my horses,” he added. “I don't think any one of them gets any more than another. She's involved with all of them.”
I Idolize You was racing first time for Nixon since being claimed for $5,000 out of his previous start, also at six furlongs over the main track. Shortly afterward, live racing was paused for 2 ½ months in Maryland amid the coronavirus pandemic before returning May 30.
“We obviously had to shut down and I elected to turn him out,” Nixon said. “He came in a little unfit and we're just trying to get him right.”
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