Cornelia Hartsmar, the 26-year-old Swedish jockey, celebrated a milestone Thursday at Gulfstream Park, securing her first North American win while guiding Lady River Lily to a front-running triumph in Race 8. With an international resume spanning Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and France, Hartsmar described the moment with palpable emotion.
“This is 102,” she said with a broad smile. “I feel amazing. I feel like I just won the Derby.”
Lady River Lily, owned and trained by Douglas Seyler, defied the odds in the 7½-furlong $17,500 turf claiming race for fillies and mares, holding gamely in deep stretch to win by three-quarters of a length. The victory marked only the second triumph in her 19 career starts.
“I love this horse. I rode her at Saratoga. Ever since then, she’s just 100 percent every time,” Hartsmar said. “I had a feeling about today.”
Hartsmar, who had previously ridden at Saratoga during the summer months, has recently relocated to South Florida and plans to continue her North American campaign, building on her already impressive international record.
Lady River Lily’s Tactical Front-Running Effort
The 26-year-old Swede guided Lady River Lily to set the pace early, maintaining position along the inside rail before fending off a late surge from the field. Hartsmar’s experience across European circuits was evident in the confident ride, ensuring the filly remained relaxed and responsive throughout.
While Lady River Lily’s victory will be the headline, Gulfstream Park continues to showcase competitive racing, with Friday’s Rainbow 6 sequence offering fans another engaging multi-race challenge. Trainers such as Saffie Joseph Jr., Arnaud Delacour, and Hall of Famer Mark Casse each have multiple contenders entered, including top turf and Tapeta performers returning from brief layoffs.
For Hartsmar, however, the focus remains squarely on the ride in hand. “Today was special. It’s just the beginning, and I feel like North America has a lot more opportunities ahead,” she said, clearly savoring the moment.
Lady River Lily’s win underscores the global nature of the sport, blending international riding talent with locally trained horses to create memorable race-day stories.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.