Dylan Davis's growing success has father swelling with pride

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – It has been 16 years since Robbie Davis has ridden regularly in the afternoon. The now 56-year-old horse trainer still holds onto a dream of riding against his three children in a race.

“I think I want to do it one time,” said Davis, whose balky knee forced him to cut short an abbreviated comeback in 2013. “It’ll make a bit of history. It’d be fun.”

For now, though, Davis lives vicariously through his children, Dylan, Jackie and Katie, who ride at different tracks in the Northeast. Sunday, Robbie Davis was living large as he watched Dylan make a bit of history of his own, winning six races at Aqueduct, which tied a New York Racing Association record for most wins on a single card.

Dylan’s day set a Davis family record, eclipsing the five-win afternoon Robbie Davis had at Aqueduct on April 15, 1983. He rode six mounts that day, finishing fourth in his other one. Davis had won the last two races the previous day, so he actually went 7 for 8, including five straight.

On Sunday, Dylan Davis won the first five races on the card, ultimately ending up 6 for 9 with two seconds and a third.

“I had to pass the torch yesterday,” Robbie Davis said Monday morning at Belmont. “It was a proudly reluctant pass. I was very blessed.”

Dylan Davis, 23, joined a Who’s Who list of riders to win six races on one NYRA card, including at Belmont or Saratoga. A partial list: Angel Cordero, Steve Cauthen, Ramon Dominguez, Bill Shoemaker, Mike Smith, Jorge Velasquez, and John Velazquez.

“Incredible day, never knew it was going to happen,” he said.

Davis was back at it Monday, winning three races from seven mounts, including the $100,000 Hollie Hughes on My Boy Tate. Davis lost another race Monday by a head bob.

Two weeks ago, on Super Bowl Sunday, Davis won five races here. He has a meet-leading 33 victories, four more than Manny Franco, with 15 days remaining in the Aqueduct winter meet.

“If I could get this meet … it’s going to be the biggest career feat for me in my life,” Davis said. “My father is going to be so proud of me. This is going to make me want to do more and continue to work hard, because this is where it’s gotten me.”

Last winter, Davis won 21 races at Aqueduct, but only six in the spring. Davis believes he is better positioned this year to compete when the Ortiz brothers, Javier Castellano, and others return from Florida this spring.

“I got a lot more confidence,” Davis said. “I know I can get the job done now. The trainers have more confidence in me. This year I should have more momentum coming in [to the spring] than last year. Always working hard and hoping for the best.”

Robbie Davis, who won 3,382 races in his career, said confidence is something he’s tried to instill in his son.

“You don’t need the best horse to win,” the elder Davis said. “You just have to make them respect you and fear you. I rode in the Cordero days. I was on a 4-5 shot and Cordero could be 10-1. I feared Cordero because he was trying to get me. He was not going to let me have an easy run. I was more fearing him than I was riding my mount. That’s what I’ve instilled in him is the confidence and the patience to do it.”

Dylan Davis is certainly getting better horses to ride than he was a year ago. While he didn’t ride any favorites Sunday, he was aboard three betting choices Monday, including My Boy Tate. Michelle Nevin, the trainer of My Boy Tate, credited Davis with getting the victory after a slow break.

“I thought Dylan did a good job of not panicking, not rushing, but easing him to where he wanted to be, and he was in striking range when the running started,” Nevin said.

In addition to confidence, Robbie Davis made a concerted effort to get his son to eat better. Robbie’s mother, Jana, lives with Dylan, his girlfriend Sara Rowland, and the couple’s 6-month old son, Michael. Jana prepares the meals.

Robbie Davis told his son: “Your body is your livelihood, and if you don’t take care of it you’re going to get tired when the eighth race comes, and that’s the most important race. That’s the race you want to be your strongest, so you have to eat properly.”

For all the success that Dylan is enjoying this winter, his father believes it’s just the beginning.

“I think it’s not just this spring but next spring, and five years from now you’re going to have a star,” Robbie Davis said. “He’s a shining star right now, but he’s just getting started. I’m beaming with pride. I came home from work every day and I made him sit at the dinner and say our prayers. ‘Dad, why do we have to do this?’ Cause this is our blessing. I tried to keep them away from the track, but it’s in their blood, I guess. To watch him grow into this is just so humbling. I feel so fulfilled and blessed.”