Apprentice jockey Alexandra Jara registered her first career victory in the U.S. while lighting up the tote board in the second race June 22 at Gulfstream Park.
Riding in her 10th race since arriving from Panama, the 23-year-old 10-pound apprentice guided 81-1 outsider Naheelah to a head victory in the $25,000 claiming race for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
Jara is the sister of Fernando Jara, who rode Jazil to victory in the 2006 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) at 18 and was the regular rider of 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor. She attended the Laffit Pincay Jr. jockey school and rode briefly with considerable success in Panama,
"It's great for me that I won my first race here," she said. "One day, I'm watching races here and now I'm winning races here."
Jara overcame traffic on the turn into the homestretch with a wide rally to prevail narrowly on the Daniel Harvey-trained mare owned by Wellesley Charoo. She had to survive an objection from Edgard Zayas, who rode fourth-place finisher Wild About Jass, before being able to celebrate her first victory.
"It feels great to get the first winner. I thank the trainer for giving me the chance to ride this horse," Jara said. "He told me how to ride her and that's what I did."
Alexandra Jara
Coglianese Photos