2021 Eclipse Awards: Jessica Pyfer

Jessica Pyfer is coming off an outstanding rookie season in Southern California, and for leading all North American-based apprentices in mount earnings last year is an Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding apprentice jockey of 2021.

Pyfer also ranked second in wins. She had 56 from 535 starts through the end of her apprentice allowance on Nov. 13, and her mounts earned a collective $2,738,863.

The success is just the latest accomplishment for the 23-year-old who graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a degree in political science and a minor in constitutional law. And, once a student, always a student.

“I’ve been pretty good at handicapping and looking at PPs,” Pyfer told Steve Andersen of Daily Racing Form. “I watch morning workouts, especially gate workouts.

:: Full list of 2021 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

“I watch past races, sometimes every single horse in the race to get myself prepared. Some horses can break in and out commonly. I want to know whose horses do that.”

Pyfer won the first race of her career on Oct. 9, 2020, at Santa Anita, and she’s continued to ride exclusively in Southern California. Her other mounts to date have come at either Del Mar or Los Alamitos. She is the stepdaughter of Southern California-based trainer Phil D’Amato.

“I’m glad I broke in here, for sure,” Pyfer told Daily Racing Form. “I’ve been very blessed to be able to break in here and do well as an apprentice and a girl.”