Apprentice jockey LaRicci revels in first career win

Apprentice rider Stephanie LaRicci won with her first career mount when Language of Love led virtually gate to wire for an easy victory in the third race Sunday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

LaRicci is a 25-year-old native of nearby Homestead and has been working as an exercise rider for about four years for veteran trainer David Fawkes. She was met after the race with the traditional shower of ice water, raw eggs, shoe polish, and baby powder from her fellow riders.

“I’ve wanted to do this since I was a little girl,” LaRicci told Gulfstream publicity. “I didn’t think it would happen. I thought I was getting a little too old.”

Language of Love, a 3-year-old Florida-bred trained by Fawkes, took the lead shortly after the start of the six-furlong maiden-claiming race. The filly returned $22 to win.

“We broke, and I said, ‘I’m going to lay off the speed horse,’ ” said LaRicci. “And then I said, ‘Wait, I am the speed horse.’ It felt easy when we were going around the turn. I didn’t want to look back, and I said, ‘Come on, baby, take it home.’ ”

New apprentice program

LaRicci is among those taking part in a new apprentice education program that Gulfstream initiated last weekend. Designed by former longtime steward Dave Hicks, the program endeavors to teach young riders about various aspects of the game by getting them acquainted with stewards, retired jockeys, nutritionists, financial advisers, starters, racing management, medical staff, and others.

“The apprentice program has been run by Dave Hicks in one form or another for more than 40 years,” Gulfstream president Tim Ritvo said in a media release. “Some of the country’s top jockeys have gone through the program. We want to do everything possible to make sure our young riders have the knowledge and skills to succeed. This program will offer them the opportunity to meet our stewards and other key personnel while learning what it takes to be a top rider.”

◗ Jockey Edgard Zayas, who has sprinted away to a big lead at the new meet that began July 1, escaped serious injury after the last race Sunday when his winning mount, Ghost On the Run, threw him when stumbling after the wire.

“He’s sore in his left shoulder and neck, but thankfully he should be back riding Thursday,” said agent Tito Fuentes. “He’s resting up and trying to feel better. We were fortunate.”

Zayas enters this week atop the jockey standings with 16 wins, 11 more than a four-way tie for second. He was fifth with 57 wins at the seven-month meet that ended June 30.

◗ Atreides made a sensational debut Saturday at Gulfstream for Stonestreet Stables, earning an eye-popping 105 Beyer Speed Figure in capturing a six-furlong maiden race by 5 1/4 lengths.

Trained by Marty Wolfson, Atreides is a 3-year-old colt by Medaglia d’Oro and is the second foal produced by the mare Dream Rush. That makes him a half-brother to Dreaming of Julia (by A.P. Indy), the retired 4-year-old Stonestreet filly who won the Grade 1 Frizette in 2012 and was the beaten favorite in the 2013 Kentucky Oaks.

◗ A $100,000 guarantee used last week to kick-start the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot wager remains in effect for Thursday. Handle into the wager Sunday was $65,227, with perfect tickets returning $3,651 apiece. The jackpot is only paid out in its entirety when there is a single winning ticket.

A pair of co-featured optional claimers (races 4 and 8) are part of the Rainbow 6 sequence, which runs from races 4 to 9. First post is 1:25 p.m. Eastern, with race 4 set for 2:58.

◗ Jose Valdivia Jr. has been settling in at Gulfstream to see how he fits into the local jockey colony. Valdivia, 39, rode a winner Saturday, his second since he left his longtime base in southern California. He won with his first Gulfstream mount June 21. Valdivia, a native of Peru, has won more than 1,200 races since migrating to the United States at age 14. His top career wins came aboard Ruler On Ice in the 2011 Belmont Stakes and Val Royal in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Mile.

◗ The lone stakes race this weekend at Gulfstream is the $75,000 Skip Trial, a 1 1/16-mile main-track race for 3-year-olds and up Saturday. There are no graded races at Gulfstream until December.