Twelve-year-old Hannah Schlenk collected her first win as a Thoroughbred racehorse owner Friday when her 6-year-old gelding, Rous, got the best of a photo finish in Turfway Park’s third race.
Schlenk inherited Rous from her mother, Jayme Tewell, who passed away Sept. 1.
A sixth grader at Grigsby Intermediate School in Granite City, Illinois, Schlenk is growing up around Thoroughbreds and the racetrack. Her father, Damon Schlenk, is a groom for Rous’s trainer, Vernon Obermeier.
Hannah took out her owner’s license in December, and the gelding’s start on Friday was his fourth in her name.
Ridden by Orlando Mojica in the mile claiming race, Rous stalked the pace to the outside, made his move at the top of the final turn, led into the stretch and held on to win by a nose over Hello People.
In his 33 lifetime starts, Rous has four wins, three seconds and two thirds.
Turfway Park