Nolan Ramsey, the longtime assistant to Mike Maker who went out on his own in April, saddled his first winner as a trainer Friday at Gulfstream Park when the 3-year-old Marshamarshamarsha (Demarchelier {GB}) won a $16,000 claimer by 1 3/4 lengths.
Owned by his grandfather Ken Ramsey, the filly picked up her second career win with the effort after coming three-wide into the lane. The trainer has assembled a 30-strong stable in Hallandale, and has plans to train a small string in the mid-Atlantic.
“It's special. It's the first one. It's great to get off the duck. It's nice doing it for family too,” said Ramsey, who was doused with water by a stable employee in celebration. He started hotwalking for Maker when he was 14-years-old.
“I wouldn't be here without him [Ken Ramsey]. My love for the horses and horseracing all came from him. I remember watching the races when I was 5 or 6. He taught me how to handicap and started bringing me around the horses. Without my grandparents I wouldn't be here. To get where I've been and being able to knock off the first one for the family, that's really special.”
Ramsey added of his time with Maker, “I was very grateful to work for Mike. The thing about Mike is he has all the horses. He has the Grade Is; he's got the starter allowances; he's got the 'nickel' claimers. You learn a lot from those horses.”
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