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Sharon Sintra Breaks Her Maiden In Friday Opener

Sharon Sintra being congratulated. Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC

     BALTIMORE, 06-06-08---Apprentice rider Sharon Sintra captured her first lifetime win in today’s opener at Pimlico Race Course.

     Riding for trainer Yolanda King aboard Casy’s Oak ($31.60), the 28-year-old guided the longshot to a 4-1/2 length victory in the six furlong test for maiden claiming fillies. The victory was the first for Sintra, who had 31 previous rides at Pimlico, including two third place finishes.

     “I came here from Israel three years ago,” said Sintra, who has been working for trainer Gary Capuano the last four months. “My big dream is to ride races. I rode in Israel for six years and did good but the racing is nothing compared to here.”

     Sintra received a warm welcome upon her return to the winners’ circle, including hugs from her fellow riders. She then suffered the traditional dousing from buckets of water, including one from her boyfriend, valet Jamie Ryan, as she returned to the female jock’s room.

     Sintra completed a riding double three races later with a victory aboard Agora Ja ($17.40).

ARCE CLOSES IN ON RIDING TITLE 

     Despite not winning a race Friday afternoon at Pimlico, Josue Arce is closing in on his first career riding title. The 22-year-old leads Rosie Napravnik by two (27-25) with one day remaining in the spring meeting. Both riders had five mounts this afternoon, but neither visited the winners’ circle.

     Napravnik has just one mount on Saturday’s 12-race card, while Arce is scheduled to ride 10 horses. Horacio Karamanos and apprentice Craig Gibbs have each won 21 races during the meet and mathematically have a chance. Both have 10 mounts tomorrow. 

     “This is a great, great, great feeling. I am very happy,” said Arce, who was brought to Maryland from South Florida by leading trainer Scott Lake at the beginning of the eight-week meet in April. “I really wanted to win the meet. She put the pressure on me.” 

     All but six of Arce’s winners at Old Hilltop have been trained by Lake.

RODMAN WILL BE GUEST ANALYST ON WMAR TV’S BELMONT SPECIAL 

     As soon as he calls the final race of the Pimlico spring meeting Saturday afternoon, track announcer Dave Rodman will head to the WMAR-TV (ABC 2) studios and join sports director Scott Garceau as an analyst for the station’s 30-minute Belmont Stakes special (7-7:30 p.m.). Reporter Rob Carlin and photographers Don Harrison and Paul Jaffey will be live from Long Island as Big Brown tries to become the 12th Triple Crown winner and first since Affirmed 30 years ago. 

-MJC-