Jockey gets first win

When Little Darby crossed the finish line in the fifth race on Tuesday, it was the first win for both horse and jockey.

A first-time starter for trainer Tim Hamm, Little Darby led every step of the six-furlong maiden special weight event and drew off to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Little Darby returned $13.80, a good price for a Hamm first-time starter.

It was the first win for jockey Marcelo Cardozo Martinez. Martinez, 25, a native of Mexico City, has been an exercise rider for Hamm for eight years after starting out as a groom.

"He is an excellent exercise rider and decided a few months ago he wanted to try to win a few races as a jockey," said Hamm. "It's something he always wanted to do."

Little Darby was only the 18th mount for Martinez since getting his license at Thistledown on Aug. 12. According to Hamm, Martinez has all of the tools necessary to be a good jockey.

"He has great hands and is well educated, and has a great sense of how fast a horse is going and how well it is traveling," Hamm said. "Marcelo is a great guy. I like to see him do well."

* After winning three races on opening day, jockey Otto Thorwarth leads the rider standings with five wins. Wilkin Ortiz is second in the standings with four.