While trainer Todd Pletcher holds a seemingly
insurmountable lead with 36 victories, tying the record he set last year in
winning the H. Allen Jerkens training title at Saratoga, the race for leading
jockey and leading owner could go down to the wire.
After one race on Friday’s card, John Velazquez held a three-race
advantage over Javier Castellano, 49-46, with Ramon Dominguez still in the hunt
for the Angel Cordero, Jr. riding title with 43 winners.
Among owners, Mike Repole and Michael Dubb are deadlocked with 13 wins
each.
This afternoon, Velazquez is aboard two morning-line favorites, Zow (2-1)
in the second and Raconteur (5-2) in the fifth, with Castellano on three:
Australis Princess (5-2) in the sixth, Divalarious (3-1) in the eighth, and
Virtuously (5-2) in the ninth.
With mounts in every race, Dominguez started Friday’s card with a victory
aboard favored Sunrise Smarty.
On Super Saturday, all three ride nearly every race, with Velazquez
aboard Protesting (6-1) in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, Sidney’s Candy (4-1) in
the Grade 1 Forego, and Mission Impazible (10-1) in the Grade 1 Woodward.
Castellano rides 2-1 favorite Ask the Moon in the Personal Ensign, Aikenite
(5-1) in the Forego and Rule (5-1) in the Woodward, while Dominguez is aboard
Super Espresso (3-1), Regal Ransom (6-1) and the 8-5 favorite, Havre de Grace,
in those respective races.
Sunday, Velazquez rides nine of 12 races (with one main track only),
including 2-1 morning-line favorite Georgie’s Angel in the Grade 1 Spinaway and
Brilliant Speed (7-2) in the Grade 3 Saranac, while Castellano, with 10 rides,
is aboard Seal Cove (6-1) in the Saranac. Dominguez, in 10 races plus one MTO,
has the call on Sky Blazer (15-1) in the Saranac and Grace Hall (7-2 POE) in the
Spinaway.
On Monday, Castellano will be out of town at Parx Racing while Velazquez
and Dominguez ride a full complement of horses.
Today, Dubb has Starforaday (7-2) entered in the first race, with Zow
(2-1) to carry the torch for Repole in race 2.
On Saturday, Ninety Five South and Never Right Joey have been entered as
a 3-1 coupled entry for Repole in race 11. Repole’s Dahess (4-1) was second on
the also-eligible list in race 6. Dubb has no horses entered on Saturday’s
card.
Both owners will have strong representation on Sunday. Racing for Dubb
are Southbeachsandy in race 4, the coupled entry of True Feeling and Grace Hall
in race 10, and Ready to Party in race 12. Repole has Hammersmith in race 1 and
Silver Screamer and main-track-only entrant Gambling Geraldine in race
11.
Monday, Dubb has entered Metrology in race 3, Cure as part of an entry in
race 4 and Golden Weekend in race 8, with Mannington an also-eligible in race 8.
Repole has no starters on Monday’s card.