Davis continues family’s riding tradition with first career win

Davis was given the traditional congratulatory dunking from her fellow jockeys after earning her first career score (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)

Apprentice Katie Davis, a daughter of retired jockey Robbie
Davis and a sister to jockeys Jackie and Dylan Davis, garnered the first victory
of her career by guiding Ivanovna to a one-length victory in the 2ND race on Friday at
Aqueduct.

Davis, 22, was making her 15th start and had piloting duties aboard Ivanovna for the first time in
the one-mile race for $12,500 filly
and mare claimers who have never won two races. After trailing in sixth early, Ivanovna launched an outside rally on the second turn before taking the lead in
midstretch.

Ed Barker trains Ivanovna and owns the four-year-old daughter
of Red Giant in partnership with Happy Hour Farms and Joseph Schweigert. Ivanovna was Davis’
lone mount on the card.

“It’s nice to know you have a horse who can run,” Davis said. “It was a great experience. I galloped that horse in the morning a few
times. She listens to me, and (one of the owners) said she doesn’t really listen
to anybody, so I have good hands with her. I was on the inside, ripping my
goggles down, until I took her out in the clear.”

Davis’ father won 1,297 races at Aqueduct and 3,382 races
total before he retired in 2002. Robbie Davis also rode in one race in 2011 and
in five races in 2013. Jackie Davis won her first race on November 5, 2008, at
Aqueduct and is currently competing at Parx Racing. Dylan, whose first win came
on September 19, 2012, at Suffolk Downs, is spending this winter at Gulfstream
Park.