Baltimore Native Rode Parts of Four Years in Mid-Atlantic
LAUREL, MD – Former jockey Kerry Hohlbein, a Baltimore native who rode in Maryland over parts of four years between 2007 and 2011, sent out her first starter as a trainer Saturday at Laurel Park.
Money Room, a gelded son of Grade 1 winner Keen Ice, finished fifth under Leonardo Carujo in Race 6, a seven-furlong maiden special weight for 3-year-olds won by 3-5 favorite Zen Master ($3.40).
It was the first race for Money Room since being claimed for $40,000 out of a runner-up finish Feb. 27 at Laurel.
“He’s a nice horse and we’re just trying to see what he is,” Hohlbein said. “I think he’s a good horse.
“I [was] very excited but nervous at the same time,” she added. “I [didn’t] want to mess up putting the saddle on or anything.”
A graduate of Baltimore’s Lansdowne High School, the 37-year-old Hohlbein did not come from a racing background but was inspired by Rosie Napravnik and Forest Boyce to become a jockey. Boyce, a finalist for the 2010 Eclipse Award as champion apprentice, continues to ride in Maryland
According to Equibase statistics, Hohlbein made her pro riding debut Dec. 28, 2007 at Laurel, finishing seventh on Family Appeal. While working for trainer Dale Capuano, she had five mounts in 2008 and did not ride in 2009 before getting 43 mounts in 2010 and riding her first winner, Dixie Thief, Oct. 27 at Laurel.
Hohlbein’s last of 248 mounts came Dec. 2, 2011 at Laurel. A 17-time winner, she also rode at historic Pimlico Race Course, the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Charles Town, Colonial Downs, Delaware Park, Parx and Penn National over her career.
For the past two years, Hohlbein has galloped for Hamilton Smith, the Laurel-based trainer with more than 2,000 career winners whose current stable star is multiple stakes-winning 3-year-old filly Luna Belle. Hohlbein and her husband, Juan, have two horses.
“I’ve been galloping horses for a while now and I figured I’d try something new, something different,” Hohlbein said. “We’re starting off with just us and seeing how things pan out.”
On Sunday, Hohlbein will send out 3-year-old Distorted Humor gelding Magic Mule in Race 7, an entry-level allowance for 4-year-olds and up sprinting 5 ½ furlongs. Magic Mule is fourth choice on the morning line at 9-2.
Previously trained by W. Thomas ‘Skip’ McMahon, Magic Mule will also be making his first start for Hohlbein. He has finished third or better in 14 of 22 career starts, three of them wins.
“That horse I love,” Hohlbein said. “He tries his eyeballs out every time. You can’t say enough good things about him.”
Maryland Jockey Club Press Release
Photo: Maryland Jockey Club
