by Greg Gangle, WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — It was a milestone Monday night for driver Jason ‘Ricky Bobby’ Ryan, who saved his best for last when taking the final dash on the Woodbine card.

New Image Media photo

Jason Ryan earned his first WEG win behind P L Cammander.

The 24-year-old gave P L Cammander a perfect, second-over trip before showing the son of Camluck clear racetrack at the top of the stretch to score a three-quarter length victory in 1:53.3 for owner/trainer Rhandy Patton.

Although the toteboard showed $19.20 for the win, Ryan admitted he wasn’t surprised by his horse’s effort.

“He closed very well the week before and I thought that if I put him in the right position he would give the same type of effort as last week. It’s always a good feeling winning a race and returning to the winner’s circle and it’s certainly nice to get my first win at Woodbine.”

A native of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Ryan learned his early horsemanship lessons from high-profile conditioner Kenny Arsenault.

“My step-father, Maurice, owned horses with Kenny and that’s initially how I got into racing,” said Ryan, who sports the trainer’s green and white silks.

“I started working for Kenny during Grade 8 on weekends and race nights and by the time I was in high school, I was in the barn more than I was in school,” Ryan said with a laugh. “I grew up just down the road from the track where Kenny was stabled in Charlottetown and that’s how I got hooked. My family and I have been close with him ever since.”

Ryan, who operates a six-horse stable, first ventured to Ontario when he was 19, finding work with fellow driver/trainer Anthony MacDonald.

“I came to work for Anthony when he had a stable and I asked him when he wanted me to start and he kept forgetting my name,” recalled Ryan. “Then he gave me the nickname Ricky Bobby from the movie ‘Talladega Nights’ because I have two first names.”

Ryan resides in Barrie with his girlfriend Danielle and their one-year-old daughter Abby.

Live racing resumes Thursday at 7:25 p.m., while Ryan gets another shot at a WEG win on Friday’s card with a first race post time also scheduled for 7:25 p.m.