Trainer Kobiskie gives himself a leg up

Dane Kobiskie gave up his career as a jockey in February 2008 to become a trainer, but he clearly hasn't forgotten how to ride a horse.

With his regular rider Jenna Joubert sidelined with an injury and second choice Julian Pimentel serving a suspension, Kobiskie named himself to ride Mysterious Bandit in last Thursday's seventh race at Laurel Park.

Kobiskie, 30, guided the 7-year-old mare Mysterious Bandit ($6.40) to a wire-to-wire victory over seven rivals in a second-level optional $25,000 claimer.

"No pressure," said Kobiskie. "Jenna Joubert is my stable rider but she's still injured, and my second choice Julian Pimentel is on days, so I said, 'You know what, I rode this horse, and I'll ride her myself.' "

Last summer at Colonial Downs, Kobiskie saddled and rode Citi Charisse, another of his horses, to a stakes victory.

Kobiskie now has 290 wins as a rider and 39 as a trainer, including five during the current Laurel winter meeting.