American amateur jump jockey Bethany Baumgardner came close to stealing a Longines Fegentri Ladies Championship race on Sunday at Valparaiso Race Course in Chile. Assigned the mount on Franca Victoria in the 1,000-meter dash, Baumgardner broke the 22-1 longshot sharply from the gate and led to midstretch, where they were passed by 7-2 second favorite La Mas Chiquita. Franca Victoria and Baumgardner finished second, 3 1/2 lengths behind the winner.
Baumgardner, representing the Amateur Riders Club of America, previously had posted a third-place finish in a race at Doha, Bahrain, and now ranks second in the international standings.
Also representing ARCA over the weekend was jump jockey Zoe Valvo, who participated in an Arabian race at Sam Houston Race Park in Texas on Saturday. She was drew TM Maddamee, who went off as the longest price on the board at 55-1 and finished unplaced in the seven-furlong stakes race worth $41,500.