Pyfer begins life without the bug on Sunday

Jessica Pyfer’s days as an apprentice jockey end after Saturday’s program at Del Mar.

Sunday, the 23-year-old college graduate will begin racing without a five-pound allowance, hoping to prove she can make the sometimes difficult transition to a full-fledged journeyman rider.

“I’ll keep doing what I’m doing,” Pyfer said last weekend. “There is nothing you can change.”

Through Sunday, Pyfer, the stepdaughter of trainer Phil D’Amato, had won 72 races from 640 mounts. Pyfer, who began riding in late September 2020, had 36 wins at the six-month Santa Anita winter-spring meeting earlier this year, finishing sixth in the standings.

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More recently, Pyfer was 10th in the standings at the Del Mar summer and Santa Anita autumn meetings.

Pyfer has ridden only at Del Mar, Los Alamitos, and Santa Anita in her brief career, and did not follow a path some local apprentices have tried in riding at venues such as Golden Gate Fields or Turf Paradise before moving to Southern California.

“I’m glad I broke in here, for sure,” he said. “I’ve been very blessed to be able to break in here and do well as an apprentice and a girl.”

Having a family connection with D’Amato is a boost. Before she began riding, Pyfer exercised horses for years while attending college. She just wants to ride more often for D’Amato.

“Even though he’s not riding me as much as I want him to, I’m here every morning working horses,” she said with a laugh.

“He’s been a big supporter, not just putting me on mounts, but every mount he tries to give advice on what to do. He’s really smart. He’s a better handicapper than I thought.”

Six months from now, Pyfer knows she’ll have a better idea of how she fits among Southern California riders.

“I’ll be here trying to ride, to prove myself,” she said. “I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon.”