LAUREL, MD. 10-31-12---Apprentice jockey Christina Rodriguez won her first career race in Wednesday’s sixth race at Laurel Park.

The 19-year-old was aboard 8-1 shot Over Marketed for trainer Tony Aguirre. They were fourth at the top of the stretch but were able to get to the rail and spurted clear inside the sixteenth pole to win by 1-3/4 lengths in the 5-½ furlong sprint. The Tale of the Cat filly paid $18.40.

“This is the first live horse I rode,” said Rodriguez, who had three mounts at Penn National before relocating to Laurel Park this week. “She ran great. I couldn’t believe I really won. It was awesome.”

Before returning to the female jockey’s quarters, Rodriguez was ambushed with the traditional good-natured dowsing of water, eggs, talcum powder and shaving cream from her fellow riders to celebrate her first victory.

About Laurel Park

Laurel Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.