Gulfstream Park: Jockey Michael Ritvo gets first winner

Apprentice Michael Ritvo, the son of Gulfstream Park president and general manager Tim Ritvo and trainer Kathy Ritvo, won for the first time in his riding career with just his second mount when guiding Little Daniella to a front-running victory in Sunday’s second race.

“This was 10 times better than I thought; there’s no other experience like it,” said Ritvo, 19, who has been working and galloping horses at Gulfstream for the past two months.

Kathy Ritvo, whose two brothers, trainer Mike Petro and jockey Nick Petro, helped show their nephew the ropes last fall and earlier this winter at Parx Racing, made headlines in 2013 as the first woman to train a Breeders’ Cup Classic winner after Mucho Macho Man won the race in November at Santa Anita.

“I’m happy for him and to see that all his hard work has paid off,” said Ritvo of her son.

Little Daniella is owned by the Little Dreams Racing stable of trainer Carlo Vaccarezza.

[Clocker Reports: Get Mike Welsch’s clocker reports from Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows]

“That was phenomenal,” said Vaccarezza, also the owner and trainer of 2012 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Little Mike. “He’s been on this filly for me in the morning, got along well with her, and I wanted to give him a shot. And he rode her like a journeyman.”

Ritvo’s victory was tempered somewhat by the fact Vengeful broke down during the running of the race. Apprentice Dylan Davis was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons but released several hours later suffering only some minor bruising of his leg. He is expected to ride on Wednesday.