McDaid gets first riding victory in SoCal afternoon action

CYPRESS, Calif. – Apprentice jockey Kellie McDaid, who rides regularly in evening Thoroughbred races at Los Alamitos, won her first race on the Southern California afternoon circuit when Swallows Inn Gal ($38.20) scored an upset in a maiden claimer at Los Alamitos on Thursday.

The victory was career win No. 34 for McDaid, 28. She has a seven-pound apprentice claim that will be reduced to five pounds after her 35th win.

“That means I can eat,” McDaid joked between races Thursday.

McDaid, who is from County Donegal in Ireland, works as an exercise rider for trainer Bob Baffert at Los Alamitos. Through Thursday, she had won 33 races from 136 mounts this year, a 24 percent win rate. At the Los Alamitos evening meetings, McDaid rides Thoroughbreds who race for claiming prices of $5,000 or less at 4 1/2 furlongs.

Swallows Inn Gal won a maiden claimer on the track’s one-mile oval in a race at 5 1/2 furlongs.

“This horse has gears right here,” McDaid said. “I said, ‘Keep going. This is so cool.’ ”

Swallows Inn Gal is owned and trained by Robert Lucas.

“The horse was so calm,” McDaid said. “She was like a wee princess.

“I’m grateful. I’ll see where this takes me.”

◗ Los Alamitos will resume racing on Wednesday for a Fourth of July program. There is no racing on Thursday before racing resumes for a three-day weekend on Friday.