OZONE PARK, N.Y. – She worked as a tattoo artist in Puerto Rico, but now Dalila Rivera is attempting to make her imprint in a totally different profession. Rivera is a jockey, and after a rough start to her stint in New York, things are beginning to turn around for the 27-year-old apprentice. Rivera has won with five of her last seven mounts – including one at Parx – and had the first two-win day of her career last Friday at Aqueduct. “I’m very happy for this opportunity, and the success in this moment for me is very, very special,” Rivera said. “I feel blessed.” Rivera grew up in Puerto Rico where she studied forensic science in college. She briefly worked in a law firm and was going to become an attorney, but opted against. She was working as a tattoo artist until one day a friend invited her to attend the races at Hipodromo Camarero. While there, trainers noticed her slender build and inquired if she would be interested in learning to ride. Rivera agreed and instantly fell in love with it. Soon, she attended jockey school and began riding races. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. In 2025, Rivera came to Florida and was galloping horses for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Rivera went to Canada where last June she rode her first race at Fort Erie. In July, she won her first race at Woodbine and a few days later earned her second win at Presque Isle Downs. Rivera returned to Gulfstream for three months last summer before moving her tack to Aqueduct in November. Rivera began working with Hall of Fame rider Angel Cordero, who was told by his friend, trainer Alfredo Velazquez, that Rivera had talent. Cordero was skeptical at first, noting that Rivera had only modest success and was a female, two potential strikes for a rider trying to succeed in New York. “Usually, you bring a bug rider when they’re winning a lot of races. She wasn’t winning that much so she was hard to sell,” Cordero said. “Second, New York isn’t the place for a girl. The only girl that did well here was Julie Krone but she was already made when she came here.” Cordero, who is Rivera’s agent, pointed to a New York rule as another impediment to success. If Rivera is not named on a horse at entry time, she could pick up a mount at the draw from a rider who had two calls, but she could not ride that particular horse with her seven-pound weight allowance. Rivera said she’s gotten “more aggressive” in her riding since she began in New York four months ago. “She got a little smarter and she’s getting a little stronger,” Cordero added. Cordero praised Rivera’s work ethic, noting that she’s ready each morning at 5:30 a.m. to get to the track and get on horses. Cordero recently began sending Rivera to Parx on dark days in New York and she has already won three races at the Bensalem, Pa. track. Cordero said Rivera maintains her apprentice status through early June. He said come summer, he would likely have Rivera ride at Mid-Atlantic tracks as opposed to toiling at Saratoga. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.