Horse Racing

After missing the opening weekend of racing, Nikeela Black didn't think winning her second Grants Pass Downs leading jockey crown was realistic.

But coming down to the final two races of the meet, Black trailed Luis Torres by just two wins.

Sure enough, Black won those two, including a come-from-behind victory over Torres in the last race.

For the 24-year-old rider from Kennewick, Wash., it was her second title in her five years riding at GP Downs.

"When I missed the first weekend, there wasn't any pressure on me," said Black. "Leading rider wasn't even a goal of mine. I didn't think I had a shot."

Entering the final day, Black held a 13-12 lead over Torres in wins. But Torres took command by winning four of the first eight races, while Black managed one victory.

Going into the last two races, Black still had a mathematical chance to tie Torres, but she wasn't too confident about her chances.

"I knew I had a really good shot on Lucky Thirteen in the next to last race," explained Black, "but I wasn't so sure about the next one."

Black was correct as the overwhelming favorite Lucky Thirteen won the ninth race by five lengths.

In the 10th race, a 5-furlong claimer for fillies and mares, Torres was in the No. 1 post position aboard Chocolate Starr, while Black was next in the gate with Flexible Loyalties.

When Flexible Loyalties got cut off going into the first turn, Black's hopes faded. But the horse didn't give up.

"When (Flexible Loyalties) showed me she was game, I asked her on the back side," said Black. "I caught (Chocolate Starr) on the final turn and put my head down and kept riding."

Flexible Loyalties rallied for a 1-length victory over Torres on Chocolate Starr, giving Black a share of the riding title as the nine-day season came to an end.

Torres, who tied a track record with seven winners on Father's Day, finished with 16 victories on 68 mounts.

Black got her 16 wins on 61 rides. Black's horses won $36,855 in purse money — the most of any jockey.

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