ARCADIA, Calif. – Drayden Van Dyke, the champion apprentice jockey of 2014, had his first win as a journeyman Friday aboard the 3-year-old Ernest Shackleton.
Van Dyke, 20, may have a stakes horse in Ernest Shackleton, a candidate for turf stakes in March and April. Ernest Shackleton, imported from Ireland last fall, won for the first time in the U.S. on Friday. The colt is trained by Doug O’Neill.
Van Duke downplayed the move from apprentice to journeyman. Ernest Shackleton was the 199th win of his career.
“I’m just happy to win,” he said.