Jockey Heidi Rose scored her first victory by a nose with Silver Prince in the opening race Aug. 29 at Arlington Park (VIDEO), then took a fall when the favorite made a hasty exit.
Horse and rider soon parted ways when the son of Nobiz Like Shobiz tossed his jockey and ran off the track at the mile gap. Neither were injured and Rose made her way to the winner’s circle without her equine partner.
"He leaned out towards that out-gap and I was pulling away from it," Rose explained. "The horse wheeled. He jumped it and took off. He went home.
"I am happy to win," she added. "I wasn’t sure when I crossed the wire if I’d gotten up or not. I will definitely never forget this one.”
Ida Spagnola owns and trains Silver Prince. The Illinois-bred colt prevailed over Sterlingten in the maiden claiming test at six furlongs on the Polytrack, coming from slightly off the pace under right-handed encouragement from Rose.
It was just the 10th ride for Rose, a 27-year-old native of Holland, Michigan. She has been a hotwalker, groom, exercise rider, assistant trainer, pony person, and also worked the sales before launching her riding career earlier this month.