For now, Pyfer's apprenticeship comes in the saddle, not the law

ARCADIA, Calif. – The decision came down to law books or riding horses earlier this year for Jessica Pyfer.

The law books are on the shelf.

Pyfer, a 10-pound apprentice jockey, began her career at Santa Anita on Sept. 25 and rode her first winner with her sixth mount in the final race on Friday.

“It was awesome,” Pyfer recalled on Sunday.

Pyfer, 22, is the stepdaughter of prominent trainer Phil D’Amato. In recent years, she has exercised horses for D’Amato’s stable on a daily basis while attending nearby Azusa Pacific University. Pyfer graduated earlier this year with a major in political science and a minor in constitutional law.

Pyfer was considering law school when she and D’Amato decided this year was a good time to begin riding.

“Dad gave me the chance to ride and I took it,” she said in reference to D’Amato.

Pyfer had her first mount for D’Amato and rode her first winner for trainer Val Brinkerhoff.

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She had two mounts on Sunday, finishing second in a maiden special weight race on Charlito, who closed well to finish a half-length behind Mystery Man, ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.

“That was fun,” Pyfer said.

Friday did not begin as well. Pyfer was aboard 6-5 favorite Give Me a Hint, who lost all chance in a $10,000 claimer at six furlongs after a poor start.

“She just jumped up out of the gate and went left,” Pyfer said. “I overcorrected. I learned a lot from that experience.”

After the race, Pyfer said a few jockeys “took me aside” to offer advice on how to manage such situations. It’s common for apprentice jockeys to watch replays with veterans immediately after a race and hear feedback, a learning process for any apprentice.

Pyfer has two mounts on Friday’s program, but is not eligible to ride some races. Apprentice jockeys are barred from riding first-time starters, turf races, or 2-year-olds until their fifth win through an agreement between track stewards and the Jockeys’ Guild, the stewards said.

“It really limits what I can ride,” Pyfer said.

A fifth career win also reduces an apprentice jockey’s weight allowance from 10 pounds to seven.

All of that is present at a time when mounts are scarce to begin with. There has been a slight decline in average field size at Santa Anita compared to last year. Through Sunday, fields averaged 7.37 runners in 89 races since opening day on Sept. 25, compared to 7.54 in 93 races during a similar span at the 2019 autumn meeting. Fewer runners means fewer mounts for young jockeys.

In coming months, Pyfer will ride at Del Mar for the first time when that track begins its autumn meeting on Oct. 31. Though she has ridden only nine races through Sunday, Pyfer said she senses rapid changes with each mount.

“I’ve learned so many different things,” she said. “I’m very confident in the last few days with my rides.”