LRL: First winner for jockey Pedro Pena
Frank Vespe
January 16, 2026
Twenty-five year-old apprentice jockey Pedro Pena earned the first win of his career in Laurel Park’s second race Friday.
Aboard the Thomas McMahon-trained Diamond N Dress, Pena had his mount tracking the pace while three wide early in the $16,000 claimer for three-year-old fillies. Diamond N Dress bid for the lead rounding the far turn, taking over with three-eighths to go and clearing off en route to a 1 ½-length victory.
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Running time for 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track was 1:51.17.
The win was the second from 10 starts for Diamond N Dress, a Connect filly owned by Lisa Delp and Silvia Gallegos.
Diamond N Dress paid $33.20 to win, with Secret Oaks rallying into a clear second.
Pena, a native of the Dominican Republic, entered the contest winless in 30 tries but left it with his first win and, moments later, the customary sneak-attack bath jockeys receive for their first win.
“Happy for the first win,” Pena said.
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