First win for Riley

Amanda Riley recorded her first win as a harness racing trainer with her Golden Leader (Big Jim) in the sixth race at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday (Oct. 19).

Riley’s mare sat third with leading driver James MacDonald at the controls and stuck to the cones for the first three-quarters. MacDonald brought her to the outside at the top of the lane, and the mare rocketed to the front and beyond, winning by five lengths in 1:55.

GOLDEN LEADER REPLAY

Riley has owned Golden Leader since July. The mare was previously trained by her husband, Thomas, and has now won once for each partner. The six-year-old is now 20-for-102 lifetime and has earned $138,330. The win was Amanda Riley’s second training start. In her third, later on the card, Majestic Virgin (Always A Virgin) closed hard for second. In a Facebook post, Riley wrote “someone pinch me.”

Woodbine Mohawk Park will continue its week of racing on Friday, Oct. 20 at 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink