DOMINGUEZ, PLETCHER, DUBB TOP 2010 NYRA STANDINGS

**Please see the attached photo of Ramon Dominguez, the nation’s leading jockey by purses earned and NYRA’s leading jockey by wins, riding the New York-bred Haynesfield to victory in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. Credit NYRA, Adam Coglianese**

 

Saturday, January 1, 2011

 

Contact: Jenny Kellner

vkellner@nyrainc.com

 

 

DOMINGUEZ, PLETCHER, DUBB TOP 2010 NYRA STANDINGS

 

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – If 2009 was a great year for Ramon Dominguez, 2010 may have been even better.

 

The 34-year-old jockey put the finishing touches on another superlative tour of The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit by piloting four winners at Aqueduct Racetrack on New Year’s Eve, bringing his total NYRA victories for 2010 to 353, nearly twice as many as runner-up David Cohen (180). It was the second straight NYRA riding title for Dominguez, who moved his tack to New York on a full-time basis in 2009, and included individual titles for the Big A’s inner track, spring and fall meets as well as Belmont Park’s spring/summer and fall meets.

 

Additionally, Dominguez led the nation’s riders in earnings for the first time, with winners of $16,911,880. New York mainstay John Velazquez finished second in purses earned nationally with $16,743,328.

 

All but 16 of Dominguez’s victories came in New York and included Grade 1 wins in the Jockey Club Gold Cup aboard Haynesfield, the Man o’War with Gio Ponti, the Garden City with Check the Label and the Three Chimneys Hopeful on Boys At Tosconova.

 

In 2010, Dominguez rode five winners on February 17, four winners 12 times and three winners on 41 occasions. His 353 NYRA victories, with earnings of $13,531,623, ranks third for most NYRA wins in a single year, behind his 2009 mark of 376 victories and Steve Cauthen’s 433 winners in 1977. Dominguez finished second in the country in wins for the second consecutive year, with 369.

 

“To be able to feel that 2010 was as good or better than 2009 is very gratifying,” said Dominguez, who lives near Belmont Park with his wife, Sharon, and their sons Alexander and Matthew. “It’s hard to pick out one highlight, but I thought the Jockey Club Gold Cup with Haynesfield and the Hopeful with Boys At Tosconova were special, and it’s always great to win with Gio Ponti because he’s such a good horse.”

 

Todd Pletcher returned to top the NYRA trainer standings for the first time since 2004 as he dethroned four-time leading trainer Gary Contessa, 120-86.

 

Pletcher, who also led the nation in earnings with winners of $23,157,098 and won his first Kentucky Derby with Super Saver, had a stellar year in New York that kicked off with Distorted Passion’s New Year’s Day win in the 2010 Interborough Stakes.

 

Pletcher would go on to win 31 more NYRA stakes, including Grade 1 victories in the Wood Memorial with Eskendereya, the Metropolitan Handicap and Woodward with Quality Road, the Ogden Phipps and Beldame with Life At Ten, the Mother Goose and Betfair TVG Coaching Club American Oaks with Devil May Care, the Champagne with Uncle Mo, the Ruffian with Malibu Prayer, the Spinaway with R Heat Lightning, and the King’s Bishop with Discreetly Mine.

 

“We had a great year in New York from beginning to end,” said Pletcher. “Taking the inner track title at Aqueduct for the first time was a big accomplishment, and recapturing the Saratoga training title was very gratifying. Winning the Wood Memorial and the Met Mile, two races we’d never won before, kind of jump out. It was a great year for us all over the country, and particularly in New York.”

 

Michael Dubb won his first title as leading owner in New York, edging Repole Stable in victories, 50-49.

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