Belmont Park Spring/Summer Meet Concludes
With two wins on closing day, jockey Javier Castellano sewed up his third straight spring/summer meet title at Belmont Park, while Todd Pletcher cruised to the finish with an insurmountable lead to garner top trainer honors.
Castellano, who last year shared the meet's jockey title with Irad Ortiz, Jr., rode 56 winners at the stand, two more than Ortiz in second. Castellano and Pletcher teamed up for numerous victories, including graded stakes scores in the Grade 3 Bed o' Roses (Dame Dorothy), Grade 2 True North (Rock Fall), and Grade 2 Peter Pan (Madefromlucky).
Castellano's biggest victory of the meet came aboard Honor Code, who stormed home to win the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on Belmont Stakes Day. He also picked up stakes wins in the Grade 1 Man o' War (Twilight Eclipse), Grade 3 Victory Ride (Irish Jasper), the Commentator (Empire Dreams), the Perfect Sting (Daring Kathy) and the Lynbrook (Wonderment).
Pletcher lost a nose decision with the last horse he saddled at the meet and fell one win shy of tying trainer David Jacobson's record of 44 victories. In addition to his graded stakes triumphs with Castellano, Pletcher earned stakes wins in the Grade 1 Acorn (Curalina), Grade 2 Brooklyn (Coach Inge), and the Mike Lee (Ostrolenka).
Pletcher finished well clear of Chad Brown, who checked in at second with 33 wins, while Hall of Famer Bill Mott's 25 victories were third-best at the stand.
Finishing in sixth in the trainer standings, Jacobson didn't walk away from the meet empty, taking home leading owner honors by a margin of 13-11 over Michael Dubb. Godolphin Stable finished third with eight victories.
On the heels of his second straight Belmont spring/summer meet title, Pletcher will attempt to win top trainer honors for the sixth straight year and 12th time overall when racing commences at Saratoga Race Course on July 24.
Source: NYRA Communications