Northlands Park: Leading apprentice jockey Pooli tries to add to win total

For the second year in a row, the Sovereign Award for an apprentice could be awarded to a jockey based at Northlands Park. Last year, Scott Williams was voted the top apprentice in Canada. With 73 wins through Oct. 6, Amie Pooli is the clear leader in the country over Skye Chernetz, who is second with 39 wins while riding at Woodbine.

Pooli, 24, looks to add to her totals when she rides Live a Little in a one-mile, $25,000 optional claiming race for 3-year-olds and up that will serve as Wednesday’s feature at Northlands Park.

Born in Kamloops, British Columbia, Pooli grew up in a family that was involved in rodeos, so she has been around horses all of her life. She followed the same path Williams took to learn his trade by enrolling in the Jockey Training Program at Olds College in Olds, Alberta.

After graduating, she began her career at Evergreen Park, a “B” track in Grande Prairie, before moving to Northlands where her first win came aboard Mariacomo on Aug. 13, 2011, for trainer Greg Tracy. Pooli worked as an exercise rider for Tracy before she began her riding career.

“A lot of riders want to jump in before they are ready, but she was very patient and it’s really paid off for her,” Tracy said. “She’s still working hard in the mornings.”

Pooli has won five stakes at the current meet, and her first stakes win came in the $50,000 John Patrick aboard a horse she used to own, Tempered Sapphire.

“My aunt gave her to me after she didn’t get the price she wanted at the yearling sale in B.C.,” Pooli said. “I ended up selling her for $1,500 and it was pretty cool to win a stakes race with her.”

Pooli is still learning her craft, and she feels she has made great strides in a couple of areas.

“I just feel a lot more comfortable riding a race and I’m certainly a lot stronger physically compared to when I first started riding,” she said.

She demonstrated her strength and good sense of timing when she won aboard Live a Little last time out on Sept. 27. Realizing Igotadeal was setting a slow pace, Pooli sent Live a Little three wide around the second turn to take over the lead going down the backstretch. Live a Little opened up a clear advantage turning for home and under strong urging from Pooli was able to hold off Real Dingo by a head.

Real Dingo looks like the horse Live a Little will have to beat again Wednesday.