Jockey Hamilton Wins First Race in Comeback

Jockey Steve "Cowboy" Hamilton earned the first victory of his comeback from retirement Oct. 2, piloting owner and trainer Robert Vukelic's Bo Vuk to a 4 3/4-length victory in the third race at Laurel Park .

The win marked Hamilton's first in nearly 10 years.

Hamilton had more than 1,200 victories and was one of the top five riders in Maryland when he retired in December of 2006. He rode from 1990 to 2000 before leaving for his native Oklahoma, returning in January of 2004 and winning spring meet titles at Pimlico Race Course in 2004 and 2005.

 

Before his win Sunday, Hamilton went 0-for-56 with nine seconds and three thirds, commencing his comeback with 12 races at the Maryland State Fair meet at Timonium Aug. 26- Sept. 5. Laurel Park's fall meet opened Sept. 9.

Bo Vuk ($21.60) ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.46 over a muddy (sealed main track) in just his second start and first since Jan. 3.

 

"I've been waiting for that one," Hamilton, 42, said. "It's awesome. Words don't describe being back on that end of it."

 

Bo Vuk, a 3-year-old Notional   gelding, was forced to steady leaving the starting gate and raced near the back of the eight-horse field before launching his bid from the two path nearing the three-eighths pole. Hamilton steered him three wide for the stretch where they caught pacesetter Tizdejaslew in the final eighth and pulled away.

 

"Jimbo's got something to do with this horse and that means a lot to me. He's a good friend of mine," Hamilton said of Jim Bracciale, who works with Vukelic. "The horse settled great, settled in, and when I asked him, he was right there like push-button and finished up running. It feels great, man."