TurfPublicists: VELAZQUEZ, PLETCHER AND REPOLE WIN SARATOGA TITLES

Monday, September 6, 2010

Contact: Ashley Herriman

VELAZQUEZ, PLETCHER AND REPOLE WIN SARATOGA TITLES

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockey John Velazquez, trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole all enjoyed independent successes this summer at Saratoga Race Course, but their work together was a major factor in each party walking away a leader at the Labor Day conclusion of the 142^nd Saratoga meet.

More than 105,000 people attended the races at Saratoga on closing weekend, with 21,242 on hand to watch Velazquez pilot the Pletcher-trained Quality Road to victory in the Grade 1 Woodward on Saturday, September 4; 58,872 to see Pletcher win the Grade 1 Spinaway with R Heat Lightning on Sunday and a Labor Day crowd of 25,298 to conclude the 40-day meet.

In the final days – including a four-win afternoon on Woodward Day – Velazquez widened his lead on runner-up Javier Castellano, finishing the meet with 57 wins to Castellano’s 54. Ramon Dominguez, who was going for his 10^th consecutive meet title on the NYRA circuit, finished third with 46 wins, including a closing-day victory in the Grade 1 Three Chimneys Hopeful aboard Boys At Tosconova.

It was the first NYRA meet title for Velazquez since topping the 2005 Aqueduct fall standings with 23 wins, and first at Saratoga since his 65-win season in 2004. In his career, Velazquez has won 601 races at the Spa.

“It’s really special being here,” said Velazquez. “All the best riders, the best trainers, the best horses, so it’s always special [to win a title] here.”

Of the rider’s wins this summer, 28 came for Pletcher and seven of those were aboard Repole-owned horses.

Pletcher, whom Linda Rice edged out of the 2009 training title by one win, turned the tables this year, emerging with a comfortable lead well in advance of the final weekend and finishing with 36 wins, 16 ahead of Rice. Mechanicville native Chad Brown was third in the standings with 17 victories.

It was Pletcher’s seventh Saratoga meet title and his win total eclipsed a previous personal best of 35, the number of winners he saddled as the Spa titleholder in both 2003 and 2004. Of his total winners, 17 were juveniles, including 3 stakes winners – Position Limit (Grade 2 Adirondack), Never Right Joey (High Rock Springs) and R Heat Lightning (Grade 1 Spinaway).

“Our team at Saratoga this summer, led by my assistant Tristan Barry, did a tremendous job,” Pletcher said. “It started to show at Belmont that our 2-year-olds were coming around, and then they ran great here all summer. It’s a big part of the reason why were able to win.”

The Saratoga training title was renamed in 2010 to honor Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens, himself a four-time leading trainer at the Spa.

“It’s a tremendous honor,” Pletcher said of receiving the award from Jerkens.

Pletcher saddled eight of Mike Repole’s 13 winners to assure the owner his first Saratoga title. Though Repole Stable was New York’s leading owner in 2009 with 51 winners of more than $1.78 million, the barn was winless in 36 starts at Saratoga last summer.

“It’s surreal,” Repole said. “Labor Day last year was probably one of the most depressing days of my life in horse racing. Being 0-for-36 was pretty tough and this year [it’s great] knowing that not only do we have 13 wins and we’re the leading owner from last to first, but also we had Stay Thirsty in the Three Chimneys Hopeful.”

Stay Thirsty was the runner-up in the closing day feature, giving the stable a final record of 13-7-6 from 46 starters.

Thoroughbred racing moves downstate to Belmont Park for the 37-day Fall Championship Meet beginning Saturday, September 11, and running through Sunday, October 31. With the exception of Columbus Day week, live racing is conducted Wednesday through Sunday with a regular first race post time of 1 p.m. There will be live racing on Columbus Day, Monday, October 11, with no racing on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 12 and 13. Racing will resume Thursday, October 14.

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