Apprentice Orozco gets first victory

Apprentice Kevin Orozco, riding only the fourth mount of his career, guided Elle Woods Too to her maiden victory in her 18th start to get the first win of his career Friday at Golden Gate Fields.

Orozco, a 19-year-old from El Mirage, Calif., put the 4-year-old filly on the lead in the six-furlong maiden race. Elle Woods Too, coming off a pair of route tries, withstood a late challenge from Flying Tee, under leading rider Russell Baze, to win by one length in 1:11.04. Elle Woods Too returned $15.40.

Orozco comes from a racing family and used to go to Del Mar with his grandfather, who was a groom. His brother Irving also is a jockey and competed at Golden Gate Fields last fall.

Orozco exercises horses, including Elle Woods Too, for winning trainer Sherrie Monroe.

“I take her out every morning,” he said of Elle Woods Too. “I try to relax her. In the race, I tried to do the same thing and keep her relaxed the whole way.”

Orozco was confident in the stretch despite Flying Tee’s rally.

“I took a quick look back,” he said. “I heard [Flying Tee] coming behind me, but it wasn’t enough to catch me.”

Orozco is the second rider in a week to earn his first career victory at Golden Gate Fields. David Martin won his first race last Saturday.