TORONTO, October 13 — Apprentice jockey Daisuke Fukumoto celebrated his first career win sending Raglan Road down the road in the afternoon’s sixth race as Canadian International weekend kicked off on Friday at Woodbine Racetrack. The victory was a perfect birthday present for the Japanese-born jockey, who turned 20 years old today. Fukumoto earned his first victory on Friday aboard Raglan Road for trainer John Ross and co-owner Jack of Hearts Racing. The young reinsman sent Raglan Road to the lead between horses early on and never looked back, with the three-year-old Victor’s Cry filly clocking fractions of :23.96 and :47.91 and turning back a challenge from 3-2 favourite Southern Puzzle en route to the 1-3/4 length victory in 1:18.01 over 6-1/2 furlongs on the Tapeta track. Starting from the age of 13, Fukumoto rode in 200 amateur races in his native country where he earned 50 wins. After attending the Japan Racing Academy, he arrived in North America last year to pursue a career as a jockey and began working for trainer Reade Baker as a groom. He then went to work for Roger Attfield, Denyse McClachrie, Paul Buttigieg and Mike DePaulo galloping horses at Woodbine. The apprentice jockey debuted at Woodbine on July 26 and hit the board seven times in his first 44 starts before scoring his maiden-breaking victory. Sent postward at odds of 7-1 in the $16,000 race for claiming fillies and mares, Raglan Road paid $17.90, $7.20 and $4.50. She combined with runner-up My Ray of Sunshine ($3.10, $2.60) for a 3-4 exacta worth $44.60. A $2 trifecta of 3-4-1 (It’s a Lady’s World, $3.80) paid $205.80 and a $1 superfecta of 3-4-1-8 (Misty Spirit) returned $377.90. Racing for a tag of $6,250, Raglan Road was claimed by Pan Am Racing and heads into the care of trainer Martin Hinckson. Share This:Share
