“She Kept Digging”: Equestrian Jockey Worth $64,521,351 Celebrates Beloved Horse’s Third Career Triumph

On Monday, a prestigious equestrian race took place at Presque Isle Downs. The race was Grade 2 $300,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes for three-year-old or above fillies and mares. The race has attracted horses from different places ridden by experienced and famed jockeys.

Among the jockeys was Edgard Zayas, the multiple grade stakes winner who rode the three-year-old filly, Accomplished Girl at the race. Edgard had ridden the filly in her previous race, so he knew her well. Keeping the confidence of the jockey in him, the filly proved her power after a furious display at the track and creating an upset at Presque Isle Downs. 

Equestrian jockey excited after the win

According to Blood-Horse, the three-year-old filly had raced on turf but her performances on that track signaled that she might be ready for an all-weather track. When Accomplished Girl arrived at Presque Isle Downs, she had finished her last race in the second position at Kentucky Downs. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. the filly started her race with a furious pace and took the lead. Ridden by Worth $64,521,351 jockey she covered a quarter mile in 23.30 seconds, half a mile in 45.99 seconds, and a three-quarter mile in 1:09.14. Throughout the miles, she maintained a lead of at least a half-length. Midnight Stroll and Marissa’s Lady gave her a fight at the stretch and worked to close the gap but she overcame it and won the race by three-quarters of a length. Accomplished Girl completed the race in 1:15.29. This was her third career win and first stakes win.

Midnight Stroll the winner of Delaware Oaks last year placed second in the race and the third spot went to Marissa’s Lady. The favorite for the race, Loyalty, the winner of Grade 3 Hendrie at Woodbine never fired when required at the stretch and placed fourth with two and a half-length behind the winner. Speaking after the win the elated Edgard Zayas said that the filly was amazing today.

According to him, she broke early and took the lead. As soon as she took the lead her ears went up and she had a great run throughout. She mentioned, “She kept digging in late when the fillies started to come to her. I think the easier first quarter-mile helped her late“. Accomplished Girl kept the faith of the trainer and the jockey and displayed her potential for future races. 

Edgard Zayas’ equestrian career

Edgard Zayas, the native of Porto Rico, used to live near the racing track in his home country. He used to visit horse racing tracks with his grandfather and began to like the game. When he reached the age of 17, he decided to join the jockey school. There they taught him everything about the stock from treating, and grooming to riding. He migrated to the United States and started his riding career here in fall of the year 2012. He won his first grade 1 win at Princess Rooney Handicap riding Starship Truffles. During his long and distinguished career, Zayas has 12,274 starts of which he won 2,155 to date. This year he added $5,342,894 to his total earnings in 660 starts to date.

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Edgard Zayas is an experienced jockey who rode a formidable filly by the name of Accomplished Girl. The filly’s performance at turf impressed the jockey and didn’t disappoint him at the all-weather track, either.

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