LESS than a week after earning an Eclipse Award as North America’s top apprentice jockey, Drayden Van Dyke collected his first win as a professional last Friday week at Santa Anita Park, when the Irish-bred Ernest Shackleton won his maiden on his second start in the United States.

When asked how it felt to get his first win on his initial day riding as a journeyman, Van Dyke responded simply, “It feels great.”