Apprentice rider Leahey has first Santa Anita mount

Hannah Leahey, a 26-year-old apprentice jockey, who launched her career at Turf Paradise last month, will have her first mount at Santa Anita aboard Musical Gem in Sunday’s sixth race for $12,500 claimers.

Through Thursday, Leahey had won two races from nine mounts at Turf Paradise since March 9. In the last month, Leahey has been based at Turf Paradise during the week and at Santa Anita on weekends working as an exercise rider.

Leahey, who moved to California from Kentucky in 2019, said Thursday that she considered launching her career in 2020, but opted for a delay because of the pandemic and to gain more experience working in the morning.

“The best thing I did was wait,” she said. “The first year I wanted to take my [jockey’s] license was when COVID hit. I had been riding at Santa Anita for four months, and just galloping. No one knew who I was. Jockeys couldn’t go on the backstretch.

“The following year, there were five or six apprentices at Santa Anita and I thought that’s way too many to be up against when the fields are already small. In those extra two years, not only did I get stronger, but I learned how to ride better.”

Leahey said she plans to ride at Turf Paradise during the week and at Santa Anita on weekends until the Turf Paradise meeting ends May 7.