MARY WILEY-WAGNER ENDS COMEBACK WITH WIN IN FRIDAY’S FINALE
LAUREL, MD. 11-26-10---Mary Wiley-Wagner, who came out of retirement after May’s inaugural Lady Legends for the Cure Race™, the first pari-mutuel race featuring retired champion female jockeys, won for the first time in nearly 14 years when she and Sonata Brae captured Friday’s finale. Then the cancer survivor announced she was retiring again.
Sonata Brae ($10.40) was a driving winner over 10 other maidens. Wiley-Wagner rode the Tim Keefe trainee in all five career starts, including four consecutive in the money finishes.
“I knew I had the horse on the front end measured and felt confident we were going to cross the line first,” Wiley-Wagner said. “It was neat the win happened with Tim’s horse. He has supported me more than anybody. There is someone who is buying the rights to my story and I needed to get the win or the story would not have an ending.”
Wiley-Wagner, who finished fourth in the Lady Legends race aboard Mass Destruction, was joined by Andrea Seefeldt, P.J. Cooksey, Barbara Jo Rubin, Mary Russ, Cheryl White, Jennifer Rowland and Gwen Jocson in the historic event held at Pimlico Race Course the day before the Preakness.
In August, Wiley Wagner returned to the saddle full-time but could only land 16 mounts in four months.
“It is hard to walk away but I am just not getting the opportunities,” said Wiley-Wagner. “I don’t feel like I am embarrassing myself but this isn’t an individual sport and if I don’t have the support of the trainers and owners, it is time.”
The 47-year-old wife of Maryland Jockey Club starter Bruce Wagner ranked among the top five apprentice riders in the nation in 1987 with 148 victories before retiring in 1997 to start a family. About a year ago she was asked by Maryland Jockey Club racing secretary Georganne Hale to participate in the Lady Legends.
“Two years ago Wednesday was my final chemo treatment and my goal was to get the win before that one year was up. I missed it by two days,” added Wiley-Wagner. “It has been a lot of fun. My girls are going to be thrilled. They and Bruce have been so supportive. There have been times I wanted to quit and he told me to quit on my terms.”
Wiley-Wagner will be part the not yet announced Lady Legends 2 that will be held on May 20, 2011 at Pimlico.
“I had to retire to be eligible,” joked Wiley-Wagner. “I can’t tell you how many cancer survivors have been in touch with me on Facebook and said ‘I quit doing A,B and C because the cancer treatments kicked my butt, but if you can get on horses again I can do A,B and C again.’ There are going to be so many cool messages when I get home. That means it all.”
Wiley-Wagner re-retires with 276 lifetime wins from 2,654 mounts for earnings of $2,716,900.
BOYCE RIDES THREE WINNERS, INCLUDING 50TH OF MEET
Forest Boyce rode three winners on Friday’s card, including her 50th of the Laurel Park fall meeting when she guided Serenadia ($4.60) to a popular score in the fifth race. The apprentice visited the winners’ circle earlier in the afternoon with Broadway Dreamer ($7.80-first) and Heavenstmurgatroid ($6.60-third). It was the fifth three-bagger for the 26-year-old since Sept. 15.
Boyce had just 18 victories at the major Maryland tracks after the Pimlico spring meeting, but she is just eight wins behind Erick Rodriquez (91-83) for the overall lead in the colony for 2010 with 13 live racing days remaining in the calendar year.
The Garrison Forest School in Baltimore County and Maryland Institute College of Art graduate has a 22-win advantage over the injured Sheldon Russell (50-28) during the current stand.
The trainer standings is wide-open with John Rigattieri holding a 15-14 lead over both Ferris Allen and Hamilton Smith. Dickie Small (13 wins), Scott Lake (12) and Charles Assimakopoulos (12) are also within striking distance. For the year, Chris Grove leads Lake, 50-49.
-mjc-
PHOTO CREDIT-Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club
Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club
410-578-4461 (Pimlico)
301-470-5461 (Laurel Park)
240-876-7403 (Mobile)
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