LAUREL, MD.  03-29-13---Apprentice jockey Chelsey Keiser won for the first time when she guided Smileforthecamera to victory in today’s fourth race at Laurel Park.

On her first opportunity to ride Joan Everett’s $15,000 claimer, the 6-5 favorite, Keiser allowed Smileforthecamera to drop back to last before guiding him outside for a run at the leaders. The son of Eddington veered in but was able to avoid trouble and reached the front with a sixteenth of a mile to the finish line.

The Jason Egan trainee won by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:27.31 and paid $4.80 in the 7-furlong test.

“I am living the dream,” said an emotional Kesier. “I feel like all the hard work has paid off and I have to thank Joan Everett and Jason Egan for giving me the opportunity. I get a chance to gallop him (Smileforthecamera) in the morning and he can be a handful.”

The 21-year-old from Ohio was ambushed by her fellow riders on her walk back to the jockey’s quarters when she was greeted with a dousing of water and eggs, the traditional hazing after an apprentice breaks her maiden.

“My younger sister is here today so this is really exciting,” added Keiser. “It is all a rush right now. I know it is just a $15,000 claiming race but it means the world to me. I am looking forward to getting to Pimlico. Hopefully this is just a start of things to come.”

Keiser is the third bug rider to win her first career race at Laurel during the 2013 winter meeting, joining Natasha Coddington (February 9) and Mallory Standberg (March 22).

Apprentice riders Yomar Ortiz and Trevor McCarthy will finish 1-2 in the jockey standings in the 50-day stand that ends Saturday afternoon.

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.