Jockey Jean-Luc Samyn, who was
sidelined for nearly two months after cutting off two fingers in a snowblower
accident, made a winning return to racing Friday afternoon by piloting Belong to
Sheila to victory in the third race at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Mike Hernandez, Belong
to Sheila returned $14.00 for a $2 win bet after Samyn angled the 4-year-old
colt off the rail at the top of the stretch and onto to a neck victory over
Majestic Hope.
“I am glad to be back,” said
Samyn, whose last mount prior to the accident came with a victory aboard
Cautionary Tale on February 20. “I left a winner, and I came back a winner.”
Samyn, a longtime fixture on The
New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit, injured himself on February 21
when the blade of the powered-down snowblower moved forward and cut off
two-thirds of the index and middle fingers on his right hand. The 54-year-old
rider, who said he stayed in shape by running and swimming, began galloping
horses in the morning for trainer John Hertler earlier this month before getting
the call to ride Belong to Sheila.
“I want to thank Mr. Hernandez
for giving me the opportunity,” said Samyn. “He told me this horse would have a
chance, and he did. That was extremely nice.”
The French native has won 2,612
races over the course of his 36-year career, with more than $94 million in
purses earned. He boasts more than 110 stakes victories in New York, perhaps most
notably riding John’s Call to wins in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational and
Grade 1 Turf Classic Invitational, both in 2000.
The victory aboard Belong to
Sheila was his third victory from 13 starts this year at Aqueduct.
“I’ve had to make a few
adjustments, such as switching the whip,” said Samyn. “But if anyone is
interested in a left-handed jockey, who is two fingers lighter, here I am!”