Powell's 14-year-old Daughter Lending a Hand at Del Mar

Most 14-year-old girls spend the week going to school, then coming home, doing their homework and lying on the couch watching TV, playing a video game, or communicating with friends on TikTok. On the weekends maybe they'll play a sport or some activity that gets them outside but, for the most part, it's much of the same without the school. Most are good kids just doing what teenagers do.

Jeanne Powell is an exception. When she's not in school, she's helping tend to the horses at her father's barn on the backside at Del Mar. Jeanne is the daughter of trainer Leonard Powell. Her time at Del Mar isn't some punishment for not cleaning her room. She wants to help her dad with the family business. She loves being around horses.

"It's something that's been a huge passion for me since I was very young," Jeanne said. "Around here I lend a hand whenever the grooms or hot walkers need anything. I just do whatever is needed."

You'll often find Jeanne by her dad's side in the paddock before a race, helping him unsaddle a horse on the track after a race, and in the winner's circle when they win. She's engaging beyond her years when you talk to her, a big smile on her face when she's talking about horses like Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T) winner Anisette .

"I've been here since she first got here," Jeanne remarked. "She's always been a special filly. Sometimes in the afternoons I go sit in her stall and give her carrots, something I enjoy because she's so sweet, and she has quite a bit of a personality. She has good days and bad days and you can tell in the morning when you walk into her stall if she's going to have a good day."

While some teenagers sleep in until noon, Jeanne is up with her father and at the barn by four in the morning. 

"I took riding lessons when I was young," Jeanne said. "One day my Dad took me to the barn, and I've come every morning since."

Except on school days, per her mom's instructions.

"On school days my Mom doesn't like me to come here," Jeanne stated with a smile. "She says I'll be too tired for school. My Mom does like it (coming to the barn), because I'm outside all of the time. I'm not sitting at home doing nothing. But sometimes I prioritize the horses over my school and she doesn't like that too much." 

School is in Burbank at the Lycee International of Los Angeles where they teach both French and English. 

"I went back to school on (Aug. 28) even though I didn't want to go back," Jeanne said, voicing the sentiment of most 14-year-olds.

"She really enjoys her time here," Powell said of his daughter. "She's been very helpful. She doesn't mind getting her hands dirty. It's very nice to share a passion."

Jeanne also has some side projects she's working on.

"I ride show jumpers as well," she said, "and I have an off-the-track Thoroughbred that I'm retraining, with my trainer, to turn him into a jumper. His name is High Heater. He was with Bob Hess and retired in December. My school has a really nice program where instead of doing sports I ride. That's what I do so I can ride a couple more days a week." 

As for her future, training may or may not be the path Jeanne takes.

"I'm not sure," she said. "If an opportunity comes along I'd love to try. I'll see how it goes when I get out of school."