Trainer Kelsey Danner, 32, scored her first career training win Saturday, Jan. 13, when 3-year-old filly Majestic Bold broke her maiden in the first race at Turfway Park.
Danner (provided photo)
The milestone win came with Danner’s ninth starter. The trainer also counts one second-place finish.
A self-described “backside rat,” Danner is the daughter of trainer Mark Danner. She took out her first industry license at 16 as her dad’s employee and exercise rider at Oaklawn Park and at 18 became his assistant. In the mid-2000s, she signed on to gallop horses for Wayne Lukas and followed that assignment with 10 years as an assistant to such notable trainers as Carl Nafzger, Ian Wilkes, Rusty Arnold and, for the most recent five years, Wayne Catalano.
Danner took out her trainer’s license in the early summer of 2017. She currently has 10 horses in her stable, divided between Keeneland and Oaklawn. Danner makes her home in Georgetown, Kentucky.
Racing is a longtime family affair for Danner. Besides her father, her cousin Doug Danner also is a trainer, as were her maternal grandparents; her maternal grandfather, Harry Holcomb, was a jockey before turning to training. Her mother, Kelly Danner, is manager of racing operations for Churchill Downs.
Majestic Bold, a Majestic Warrior filly out of Boldy, was making her second start for Danner.
Previously trained by Steve Asmussen, the filly was claimed in November for owners Evelyn and Darrell Yates out of a race at Churchill Downs. Sent off the 3-1 second choice on Saturday, Majestic Bold had the lead by the half-mile point of the 6 1/2-furlong claiming race and held on to win by 2 1/2 lengths.
Rogelio Miranda was in the irons.
Turfway Park
