Jessica Pyfer has a new agent

Jockey Jessica Pyfer, the champion apprentice of 2021, is switching agents.

Pyfer said on Friday that she will be represented by Bill Castle beginning next week at Santa Anita. Castle said in a text message he will continue to book mounts on behalf of Ramon Vazquez. Castle and Vazquez relocated to California from the Midwest last month.

Pyfer was previously represented by Brandon O’Bryan, who said on Friday that he will continue working for jockey Drayden Van Dyke.

The 24-year-old Pyfer described the change as a “business decision.” After winning 59 races in 2021, Pyfer has struggled this year with only 4 wins.

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Pyfer has not ridden since May 14. On May 20, she sustained a kick in the walking ring when she was preparing to mount Tricky Ricky. Pyfer was cleared of serious injury at a hospital that evening and took off her mounts for the remainder of last weekend.

Earlier this week, Pyfer resumed exercising horses for a return to riding at Santa Anita on Saturday. She has two mounts on the program, including Bally’s Charm in the $150,000 Snow Chief Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds on turf.